A calm and steady evacuation and crews following training saved the lives of all 379 passengers on-board a Japan Airlines plane after it was engulfed in flames on the runway of Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday.
The airliner collided with a coastguard plane after landing. All but one of the six people on the smaller aircraft were killed.
The pilots in the cockpit did not know about the fire until being informed by cabin crew, Japan's national broadcaster NHK said.
The chief flight attendant, one of nine on board, reported to the cockpit that the plane was burning and that the cabin crew needed permission to open the emergency exits, NHK said.
The cabin then filled up with smoke as the temperature on board increased. Footage on board showed babies crying and people begging for the doors to be opened.
“The smell of smoke was in the air, and the doors were not opening. So I think everyone panicked,” a woman said.
“Honestly, I thought we wouldn't survive. So I texted my family and friends to say that my plane is burning, right now,” another woman told broadcaster NHK.
There were eight emergency exits but the evacuation began from two slides at the front of the plane.
Only one other exit, at the rear left, was safe from the flames, but the intercom system was no longer functioning, preventing the cockpit from giving the go-ahead, the airline said.
The crew in the back deemed the passengers needed to disembark from the back door and, following their training, they opened it.
It took 18 minutes to evacuate the entire plane, with the pilot the last person to set foot on the tarmac at 6:05pm.
Evacuation protocols followed 'to the tee'
Officials at Japan's second-biggest airline said on Wednesday that the crew followed emergency procedures in textbook fashion, starting with the first rule: panic control.
They used megaphones and their voices to give instructions to the passengers. The crew used short, direct commands, as they are trained to do, such as “leave your luggage” and “not this door”, officials said.
Aviation safety agencies have warned for years that pausing to collect carry-on baggage risks lives during an evacuation.
“I'm sure all of you have the experience of being asked on flights not to take your carry-on items in the case of an emergency evacuation,” Noriyuki Aoki, senior vice president of general affairs, said.
“This was followed to the tee, including with the co-operation of the passengers, and we believe that led to the swift evacuation.”
Terence Fan, an airline industry expert from Singapore Management University told AFP that the “passengers seemed to have followed instructions in a textbook manner”.
“This is exactly what evacuation policies are designed for – the airframe itself is not meant to survive the blaze, ultimately.”
Some passengers credited the swift evacuation drill with saving their lives.
“I heard an explosion about 10 minutes after everyone and I got off the plane,” said Tsubasa Sawada, 28. “I can only say it was a miracle, we could have died if we were late.”
Investigators from Japan, France, Britain and Canada were probing the crash on Thursday.
The flight recorder and voice recorder from the coastguard plane had been found, but those of the passenger jet were still being sought.
The Transport Ministry on Wednesday released transcripts of the flight controllers' communications, which showed they approved the flight's landing.
But the coastguard plane was reportedly instructed to go to a spot near the runway.
At least one pet dog and cat had to be left on the plane and died, the airline said.
All cabin attendants get trained once a year on evacuation procedures, simulating various scenarios such as what to do when they cannot communicate with the cockpit, officials said.
How it works
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
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Range: Up to 610km
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Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
