Japan: plane engulfed in flames after colliding with coastguard aircraft

A Japan Airlines passenger plane carrying 379 people appeared to have collided with a coast guard aircraft with six people on board. Footage shows the plane coming in to land before catching fire. The coast guard aircraft was being used to transport supplies after Japan suffered multiple devastating earthquakes. All passengers and crew from the commercial aircraft were evacuated, but five out of six coastguards were unaccounted for

Japan earthquakes – latest updates

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  4. Japan Airlines flight 516 from Sapporo To Tokyo crashed during landing at Haneda airport, when it collided with a smaller coast guard plane upon touching down. All 379 passengers and crew evacuated the JAL safely. Unfortunate 4 passengers of the coast guard plane did not survive.

  5. Thoughts for the coastguards & their family but wow that's incredible that so many have survived this!
    Great reporting too Guardian! So many channels reporting on this story, but you have MUCH better info than any others have – at least at this point in time

  11. Firstly, congratulations to the emergency services at Haneda for getting everyone out safely. Secondly. look at the video at 0:23 – I know nothing about aircraft and fires but doesn't it strike you as totally inadequate that the whole passenger and pilot-bearing structure of the plane – far away from the petrol tanks in the wings – is happily burning away like a piece of tinder ? Why isn't this made entirely of fireproof/retardant materials ? Frankly it seems like UK laws re soft furnishings in your living room are more stringent than those that govern commercial aircraft ?

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