Japan Airlines Crash: How All 379 Onboard Survived | WSJ

Summary

A Japan Airlines Airbus A350 with 379 passengers and crew successfully evacuated after colliding with a Coast Guard plane on a runway at Haneda Airport, Tokyo. Although five of the six crew members on the smaller jet died, all passengers on the Airbus were safely evacuated within 18 minutes. The plane’s composite materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic, helped delay the spread of fire, giving enough time for evacuation. The incident marks the first total loss of an A350, but highlights the safety protocols and design strengths that protected passengers.

Takeaways

• ✈️ 379 passengers and crew safely evacuated after a collision at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
• 💥 The Japan Airlines flight collided with a Coast Guard plane, resulting in a fire on the outside of the Airbus A350 but not inside.
• 😢 Five of the six crew members on the Coast Guard plane lost their lives.
• 🚪 Evacuation was completed in 18 minutes, despite using only three exits instead of the certified four.
• 🧳 Passengers were urged to leave behind luggage and sharp items to avoid damaging evacuation slides or causing delays.
• 🔥 The Airbus A350’s carbon fiber fuselage helped contain the fire longer than older aluminum planes would have.
• 🏃‍♂️ Certification tests require planes to be evacuated in 90 seconds using half of the exits, but real-life situations may differ.
• 🛠️ Airbus is sending a team to assist with the investigation, as this is the first total loss of an A350 since its 2013 debut.
• 🔍 A formal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.
• 👨‍✈️ Flight attendants played a key role in managing the safe and quick evacuation under challenging conditions.

Q & A

What event is being discussed in the transcript?

The transcript discusses a collision on the runway at Haneda Airport in Tokyo between a Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 and a Coast Guard plane.

How many passengers and crew were aboard the Japan Airlines flight?

There were 379 passengers and crew on board the Japan Airlines flight.

What happened to the Coast Guard plane involved in the collision?

Five of the six crew members on the smaller Coast Guard jet died in the collision.

How long did it take to evacuate the Airbus A350 after the collision?

It took under 20 minutes to evacuate the Airbus A350 safely.

What factors contributed to the successful evacuation of the Airbus A350?

Factors that contributed to the successful evacuation include the fact that the plane was not burning internally and the design of the Airbus A350, which includes strong materials that can contain fire longer.

What materials is the Airbus A350 made from, and why is this significant?

More than half of the Airbus A350 is made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, which is significant because it retains strength longer during a fire compared to traditional aluminum, providing extra time for evacuation.

What challenges did the crew face during the evacuation process?

The crew had to wait for confirmation from the pilots that the plane had come to a complete stop before starting the evacuation, and there were only three available exits instead of four, which created congestion.

Why is it dangerous for passengers to take their luggage during an evacuation?

Taking luggage during an evacuation can cause congestion in the aisles and may damage the evacuation slides, potentially slowing down the evacuation process.

How does the fire resistance of carbon fiber composites compare to that of aluminum in aircraft design?

Carbon fiber composites can contain fire for a longer time than aluminum, which loses its strength as it heats up. This helps to protect the occupants in the event of a fire.

What are experts likely to learn from this accident?

Experts will likely learn important lessons about evacuation procedures, the strength and fire resistance of the Airbus A350, and how the plane's design helped ensure the safety of the passengers during the accident.