Japan: 5 dead in plane collision at Tokyo's Haneda airport

Five people on board a coast guard aircraft died after a collision with a Japan Airlines plane at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan's capital, on Tuesday, the Japanese transport minister said. 

Footage aired on public broadcaster NHK showed the Japan Airlines Airbus A-350 burst into flames on the runway. An official from the carrier said the plane, flight 516, had just traveled from Shin Chitose airport in Hokkaido to Haneda.

Japan Airlines said all 367 passengers and 12 crew on board the burning aircraft were evacuated.

NHK reported that at least 17 people evacuated from the passenger plane were injured.

Meanwhile, Japanese Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito said five of the crewmembers on the coast guard aircraft had died. The pilot, one of six on board, escaped with serious injuries, he added.

What do we know about the cause of the fire?

The transport minister said the cause of the accident was unclear and the Japan Transport Safety Board, police and other departments would investigate.

"The Transport Ministry will attempt to resume the operations of Haneda airport as soon as possible," Saito said.

Video footage broadcast shortly after the collision showed fire crews working to put out the blaze. The Transport Ministry said all runways at the airport were closed.

A Transport Ministry official later said three runways had since resumed operations.

Haneda is one of Japan's busiest airports and the second-largest hub serving Tokyo, after Narita airport.

Airbus said in a statement that it would provide technical assistance to French and Japanese authorities and had dispatched a team of specialists.

What do we know about the coast guard plane?

The Japanese Coast Guard said its plane had been due to head to Niigata airport on Japan's west coast to deliver aid to those caught up in the powerful New Year's Day earthquake, which killed more than 50 people.

A Transport Ministry official said that there had been no reports of engine issues before in the JAL aircraft before it landed.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised those killed in the crash while on their way to help the quake victims.

"These were employees who had a high sense of mission and responsibility for the affected areas. It's very regrettable," he told reporters. "I express my respect and gratitude to their sense of mission."

rmt/nm (AFP, AP, Reuters)