The 367 passengers and 12 crew members carried by a Japan Airlines plane have been evacuated after an accident suffered by the aircraft on the runway of Tokyo's Haneda airport. The plane collided with another Japanese Coast Guard aircraft after landing on the runway, according to local media. The coast guard aircraft was on its way to a base in Niigata Prefecture with supplies to help the area affected by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck central Japan on Monday, Jan. 1.
Public broadcaster NHK reported that the coastguard plane was also on fire and that only one of its six crew members was known to have escaped. The first images broadcast live by the network showed the Japan Airlines plane on fire as firefighters tried to put out the fire.
Live feed from Tokyo's Haneda Airport
At around 18:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. Spanish time) the aircraft was almost completely engulfed in flames. A spokesperson for the company said the flight came from Shin-Chitose airport on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
The plane on fire on Tuesday was seen on the tarmac at Tokyo's Haneda airport. CCN News
According to Japan Airlines, the plane collided with another plane during landing. ISSEI KATO (REUTERS)
The plane collided with another Japanese Coast Guard aircraft after landing on the runway, authorities have reported by local media.
The 367 passengers and 12 crew members on the Japan Airlines plane have been evacuated. ISSEI KATO (REUTERS)
Flight JA516 was scheduled to land at 17:40 p.m. (local time) at Haneda Airport. All runways have been closed since 18:00 (local time), and some flights have been diverted to Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture. The company has reported that it is "assessing the extent of the damage" and for the moment the number of injured has not been disclosed, according to the Japan Times newspaper.
The accident comes just 24 hours after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook central Japan. The quake, which was felt along much of the country's western coast, has caused extensive structural damage and fires and forced authorities to activate a tsunami warning that was lifted on Tuesday morning. At least 48 people have died in Ishikawa prefecture, where the quake's epicenter was located, and emergency crews are continuing to work to find survivors. The National Meteorological Agency estimated that more than 140 aftershocks occurred and has warned that more strong shaking could occur in the coming days.
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