TOKYO - Moments before the deadly collision at Haneda Airport on Tuesday evening, the pilot of Japan Airlines Flight 516 received landing clearance from air traffic control, while reports suggest that the Japan Coast Guard aircraft was told to hold short of the runway.
In a press conference held last night, Japan Airlines detailed the circumstances of the accident. They received explanations from the crew stating that they entered the runway as usual and started the normal landing procedure when the collision occurred.
Japan Airlines later confirmed that there were no anomalies with the aircraft when it departed from New Chitose Airport and during the flight. The pilot reported that after acknowledging and repeating back the landing clearance from air traffic control, they proceeded to enter the runway and commence landing operations.
According to reports, air traffic controllers had instructed Japan Coast Guard aircraft to proceed to the short side of the runway, but had not given them permission to enter the runway.
However, according to Coast Guard officials, the severely burned captain stated that he had received clearance for takeoff from air traffic control, leading to a discrepancy in the accounts of the incident.
Source: 日テレNEWS
