Following a collision between a Japan Airlines plane and a Coast Guard plane at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Japan’s Ministry of Transport announced on Tuesday the introduction of enhanced emergency measures. The incident, a result of human error that occurred on January 2, has led to immediate action to improve safety protocols.
Immediate Implementation of Measures
The new measures, which include more visible stop lines on taxiways and clearer language in air traffic control communication, will be implemented immediately at Haneda. Other airports in Japan will adopt these measures in the coming weeks.
Details of the Collision
The collision involved JAL Flight 516 and a Bombardier Q300 Dash 8 of the Coast Guard on the same runway, leading to a fire. All 379 passengers and crew of the JAL Airbus A350-900 were safely evacuated, but the security force suffered casualties, with five crew members deceased.
The investigation focused on the miscommunication that led the Coast Guard crew to mistakenly believe they had clearance for takeoff. The confusion over the term “No. 1” used by air traffic control is being examined. The new measures aim to eliminate such ambiguities in communication.
New Ground Traffic Safety Role
A new role has been established in the Haneda Air Traffic Control Tower to monitor unauthorized runway entries, enhancing safety oversight.
As the third busiest airport in the world, Haneda is integral to Tokyo’s transportation network, with flight frequencies comparable to the city’s commuter trains.
