By Youssef Yahya 
An Airbus A350 operated by Japan Airlines was involved in a severe incident as it landed at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, with flames visibly engulfing parts of the fuselage. Operating flight JL516 from Sapporo, the aircraft, registered as JA13XJ, touched down in Tokyo around 17:47 local time. Eyewitnesses captured footage showing the aircraft ablaze, particularly around the windows and engine area, as emergency services rushed to the scene.
The aircraft, a 2-year-old Airbus A350-900, was met by fire trucks and emergency personnel upon its fiery arrival.
Despite the dramatic scenes, initial reports indicate that all 379 passengers and crew on the Japan Airlines flight were evacuated safely. The aircraft has been declared a total loss, according to updates from the aircraft database Planespotters.com. This is the first hull loss for this aircraft type.
Investigation and Speculations
According to Simple Flying; Initial reports suggest that there may have been a collision upon landing, with sources suggesting a Japan Coast Guard aircraft involved (some reports have identified it as a Dash 8) However, the exact details and sequence of events leading to the incident are still under investigation. Authorities, including Japan’s aviation regulator and safety boards, are actively working to ascertain the cause and contributing factors to this incident.
Early speculations suggest the fire may have been caused by a collision upon landing, possibly involving a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, reported by some as a Dash 8. This Coast Guard aircraft was reportedly en route to deliver vital supplies to Niigata Airport (KIJ) in Ishikawa Prefecture, recently affected by a major earthquake. Tragically, initial reports from local media indicate that there may have been fatalities on the Coast Guard aircraft, with five out of the six crew members unaccounted for post-collision. Only the captain is said to have survived the incident.
Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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Salma Abdelnasser