On January 2, a major incident involving a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger jet and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft occurred at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The two planes collided on the runway, causing a fire that engulfed both aircraft. Miraculously, all 379 passengers on the JAL plane survived, while five of the six crew members on the Coast Guard plane were killed. This tragic event highlighted the importance of safety measures and protocol adherence in the aviation industry, as well as the challenges and risks faced by air traffic controllers and pilots.
One of the key factors that contributed to the survival of the JAL passengers was the "90-second rule," a regulation imposed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since 1967. This rule requires commercial aircraft with 44 or more seats to be able to evacuate all passengers within 90 seconds in the event of an emergency. The rule was enacted after the 1965 Salt Lake City crash, in which 43 people died trapped in a burning plane. The rule requires rigorous testing of aircraft design and evacuation procedures under various scenarios and conditions.
The JAL crew followed the 90-second rule and safety manual guidelines and managed to evacuate all passengers within 55 seconds, despite the fire and smoke. As a result, only 14 passengers suffered minor injuries and no one died. The 90-second rule proved to be a lifesaving measure that prevented a potential disaster.
On the other hand, the Coast Guard plane, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40, did not have the same safety features and standards as the JAL plane, a Boeing 747-446D. The Coast Guard plane was not equipped with fire-resistant fuel tanks, fire suppression systems, or emergency slides. The crew also did not follow proper evacuation procedures and remained in the cockpit until it was too late. Only one crew member was able to escape, while the rest died from smoke inhalation and burns. The incident involving the Coast Guard aircraft highlighted the need for comprehensive and consistent implementation of safety protocols across aircraft types and operators.
The cause of the collision was attributed to errors made by the air traffic controller (ATC) trainee and the trainee's supervisor at Haneda Airport. The ATC trainee gave conflicting instructions to the JAL aircraft and the Coast Guard aircraft, which were approaching the same runway from different directions. The trainee supervisor failed to intervene and correct the error, and also failed to communicate with other ATCs in the tower. The ATC error resulted in a loss of situational awareness and coordination, leading to the collision.
The ATC error also highlighted the challenges and risks that controllers and pilots face in managing the complex and dynamic airspace around airports. Air traffic controllers must deal with high workloads, stress, fatigue, and human factors that can affect their performance and decision-making. Pilots must follow ATC instructions while maintaining their own situational awareness and judgment. Both controllers and pilots must deal with various environmental factors such as weather, visibility, noise, and interference that can affect the safety and efficiency of flight operations.
The collision between JAL and the Coast Guard aircraft was a wake-up call for the aviation industry, revealing weaknesses and gaps in existing safety systems and procedures. The incident also provided valuable lessons for improving the safety culture and performance of aviation stakeholders, including aircraft manufacturers, operators, regulators, air traffic controllers, and pilots. Lessons learned from the incident include
△ The importance of adhering to the 90-second rule and safety manual guidelines for aircraft evacuation.
△ The need to improve safety features and standards in aircraft design and operation
△ The need to improve training and supervision of air traffic controllers and pilots
△ The need to improve communication and coordination between controllers and pilots
△ The need to improve the situational awareness and judgment of controllers and pilots
△ The need to learn from past incidents and implement corrective and preventive actions.
The collision between the JAL and Coast Guard aircraft was a tragic event that resulted in five fatalities and many injuries. However, it also served as a learning opportunity for the aviation industry, stimulating the development and implementation of measures to improve the safety of air travel for passengers and crew. By learning from this incident, the aviation industry can prevent similar incidents in the future and achieve the ultimate goal of zero accidents.
