TOKYO: According to Xinhua, five crew members from the Japan Coast Guard lost their lives in a collision with a Japan Airlines plane at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday (Jan 2).
The Japan Coast Guard aircraft was carrying relief supplies to areas in the Niigata Prefecture that were affected by a series of powerful earthquakes on Monday (Jan 1), with magnitudes reaching up to 7.6, as reported by public broadcaster NHK.
ALSO READ: All passengers, crew escape blaze on Japan Airlines plane after Tokyo airport collision
Meanwhile, all 379 passengers and crew members on board the Japan Airlines plane were safely evacuated.
The Japan Airlines flight 516 from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido Prefecture collided with what is believed to be a Japan Coast Guard aircraft after landing at Haneda Airport, according to Japan Airlines, as reported by NHK.
Firefighters are working to extinguish the flames, NHK stated.
NHK footage showed a large burst of fire coming from one side of the Japan Airlines plane as it taxied on a runway, with the blaze quickly engulfing the aircraft.
According to the transport ministry, Haneda Airport has closed all runways due to the aircraft collision. – Bernama-Xinhua
