5 dead after collision between Japan Airlines, coast guard planes at Tokyo airport
379 passengers rescued, 5 crew on board coast guard plane killed after collision at Haneda Airport, say police
ISTANBUL
A collision between a Japan Airlines plane and an aircraft of Japan Coast Guard at a Tokyo airport left five crew members dead on Tuesday, police said.
The coast guard plane was carrying aid for people affected by Monday’s earthquakes in the country.
Japanese police confirmed that the five crew members aboard the coast guard plane were dead, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.
The two planes collided after Japan Airlines aircraft landed at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
The Japan Airlines flight was carrying 379 passengers and crew from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido.
All runways at the airport were closed following the incident.
Japan Coast Guard said the aircraft was deployed to carry aid to people affected by earthquakes that hit Ishikawa province, located along the seacoast on main Honshu Island on Monday.
At least 48 people have died in the recurring earthquakes in the past 24 hours.
Footage broadcast on Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed that a large part of the aircraft is on fire at the Haneda Airport.
Airport authorities were seen working to extinguish the flames.
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