𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐚: 𝐉𝐀𝐋 𝟓𝟏𝟔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐀 𝟕𝟐𝟐𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐚: 𝐉𝐀𝐋 𝟓𝟏𝟔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐀 𝟕𝟐𝟐𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

A dramatic event occurred on October 24th, 2023, when Japan Airlines Flight 516 (JAL 516) hit a Japan Coast Guard Bombardier Dash 8 (JA 722A) as it was landing on runway 34R at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The collision was severe, but amazingly, none of the 369 passengers on JAL 516 were injured. This remarkable result shows the vital role of various factors, such as:

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬:

The pilot of JAL 516 showed great ability and coolness in controlling the aircraft after the collision. Even with the damage, the pilot kept the plane stable, followed the path, and stopped it on the runway, preventing more damage. This quick and firm action set the stage for the successful evacuation that came next.

𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The cabin crew of JAL 516 acted quickly and well to the emergency. They saw the immediate danger near the back emergency door, and they decided to focus on the front exit. This fast decision-making, along with the crew’s calm guidance and smooth procedures, helped the evacuation of all 369 passengers in just 90 seconds.

𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤:

Passengers on JAL 516 had a key role in keeping themselves safe. They showed great awareness of the situation, and they followed the crew’s directions with calmness. Importantly, no passenger tried to get their items during the evacuation, putting their lives before their things.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬:

The Haneda event gives useful lessons for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals around the world. It highlights the key importance of:

𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

The use of fire-proof composite materials in modern aircraft, like those in the Airbus A350, helped a lot in stopping the fire and giving more time for evacuation. OHS professionals can push for the use of such materials in all aircraft to make passenger safety better.

𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞:

The quick and good response from the JAL 516 crew shows the importance of regular emergency drills and training for both crew and passengers. Frequent simulations and complete emergency response plans can prepare everyone on board to deal with such situations well.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬:

Most of all, the Haneda event shows the key role of human factors in making aviation safe. From the pilot’s skill and the crew’s fast decision-making to the passengers’ alertness and teamwork, individual actions during the event had a key role in the good result. By putting training, communication, and a safety-focused culture first, OHS professionals can help individuals make good decisions in hard situations.

The near miss at Haneda Airport reminds us of human strength and the importance of being ready for hard times. By learning from this event and doing what it teaches us, we can work to make air travel safer for everyone.

The close call at Haneda Airport serves as a poignant reminder of human resilience and the importance of preparedness in adversity. By assimilating the lessons from this incident and implementing them, we can strive to make air travel even safer for everyone.