Papua New Guinea Advances Cancer Care Partnership with Taiwan Hospital

A devastating collision between a large passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft at Haneda Airport led to a fatal incident, claiming five lives aboard the coast guard plane while miraculously sparing all 379 passengers from the Japan Airlines flight JAL-516.

The Airbus A350 burst into flames following the collision, but swift action allowed the safe evacuation of everyone on board before the flames consumed the aircraft completely, confirmed Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito.

The coast guard's Bombardier Dash-8 plane's pilot survived, but unfortunately, the five crew members onboard perished. This tragic event unfolded as the aircraft prepared to deliver aid to an area affected by a recent earthquake.

Television footage captured the harrowing moment of impact, with the Japan Airlines plane erupting into flames upon collision. Emergency chutes facilitated the swift evacuation of passengers and crew within 20 minutes as firefighters battled to douse the blaze that ultimately consumed the aircraft, which collapsed six hours later.

This incident marked the first severe damage to an Airbus A350, a relatively new addition to the large passenger plane roster since its commercial launch in 2015. Airbus pledged support by dispatching specialists to assist Japanese and French authorities, confirming the plane's delivery to Japan Airlines in late 2021.

JAL officials emphasized the normal landing procedure of the A350, expressing uncertainty about how the collision occurred. Investigations are expected to probe potential professional negligence, as reported by NHK television.

The coast guard aircraft, scheduled for relief efforts following the recent earthquake, reported an explosion after colliding with the commercial plane, according to Vice Commander Yoshio Seguchi.

Transport Ministry Civil Aviation Bureau head Shigenori Hiraoka acknowledged the collision's location on one of Haneda's runways, stressing the ongoing analysis of communication between aviation control officials and the involved aircraft.

Passenger accounts recounted chaotic scenes within the cabin, with smoke filling the space rapidly. Despite the panic, all passengers and crew escaped using emergency chutes within minutes, while some reported injuries and four passengers required medical attention.

The airport resumed operations on its remaining runways, seeking to minimize disruptions in relief efforts for the disaster-hit region. Haneda Airport, a key hub for international and transcontinental flights, faced temporary closure following the incident.

While investigations and recovery efforts continue, this tragic accident casts a shadow over Japan, with the International Air Transport Association expressing condolences and support for those affected by this distressing event."

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Papua New Guinea Advances Cancer Care Partnership with Taiwan Hospital