Panicked passengers were forced to evacuate a Japan Airlines aircraft when it caught fire after landing at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport today. All 379 passengers and crew managed to escape from the burning plane, but around eight people have been injured, including at least one who suffered serious burns.
The cause of the blaze is still unknown, but some reports suggest the plane may have collided with another aircraft before it caught fire.
Dramatic footage from Japan’s public broadcaster NHK shows the Boeing 777 engulfed in flames, with the inferno seemingly spreading from the front right-hand side of the plane. A total of 137 ambulances and other rescue vehicles raced to the scene as smoke billowed from the plane and surrounding area was cordoned off.
Not surprisingly, flight arrivals at Haneda Airport have been disrupted as a result of the incident, with a number of services cancelled or delayed. Shockingly, this is the second time in just five years that a Japan Airlines flight has been involved in such an incident. Similarly, a Boeing 787 owned by the airline caught fire at Boston’s Logan Airport back in 2013, forcing it to ground its entire Dreamliner fleet temporarily.
Reaction to the incident has been swift, with Japan’s Transport Ministry quickly announcing the creation of a task force to investigate the accident. The ministry added that it had received reports that the plane may have collided with another aircraft after landing at Haneda Airport. The flight in question took off from Hokkaido and was carrying mainly Japanese holidaymakers on their way back to Tokyo. Most of those on board were able to get off the aircraft using emergency slides.
For Japan Airlines, the incident will come as yet another PR headache as it works to reassure passengers and rebuild its reputation. Currently, the airline is going through a major restructuring, intended to bolster its finances and help it bounce back from previous safety concerns.
The incident will also be a nightmare for Boeing, who has suffered a top-line hit this year amid weaker demand for a number of its aircraft and slower-than-expected ramp up of the 777X Executive order aircraft. The last thing Boeing now needs is yet another safety incident involving one of its planes.
