Major earthquakes have devastated Japan, resulting in at least 48 casualties and a race against time for emergency services to rescue those potentially trapped under rubble. Although tsunami warnings have been downgraded, concerns persist about possible further tremors.
In a tragic incident at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, a collision occurred between a Japan Airlines passenger plane and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft. Five people aboard the coast guard plane lost their lives in the fiery collision, while all 379 passengers and crew on the passenger plane were safely evacuated.
Transport minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed that the captain of the smaller plane survived but was injured. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Social media and television footage showed the passenger plane erupting into flames on the runway. Despite swift evacuations, the fire engulfed the entire aircraft.
The coast guard plane was en route to deliver supplies to Ishikawa prefecture following a recent earthquake that claimed lives and prompted a state of emergency. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed regret and praised the deceased crew members for their sense of mission and responsibility toward the earthquake-affected areas.
The incident led to the suspension of domestic flights at Haneda airport, one of the world’s busiest, though international flights continued. Investigations into the collision are ongoing, focusing on communications between the flights and air traffic control.
This tragic event compounds the challenges Japan is facing amid natural disasters, emphasizing the need for coordinated emergency responses and heightened preparedness. The collision at Haneda airport marks a somber development in a nation grappling with the aftermath of earthquakes and their associated consequences.
