Airbus to provide technical assistance to JTSB, dispatches specialists to Japan

Five die in accident, condoles victims’ families

Aircraft giant, Airbus has confirmed that an A350-900 operated by Japan Airlines was involved in an accident during flight JAL516 from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Haneda International Airport shortly after 17:47 (local time) on January 2, 2024. All 367 passengers and 12 crew members on board evacuated the aircraft.

Airbus in a statement made available to Aviation Metric said the A350 collided with a DHC-8 aircraft at landing in Haneda, stressing that the Japanese authorities have since confirmed that sadly five of the six people on board the DHC-8 did not survive.

According to the company, the exact circumstances of the event are still unknown.

The aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number JA13XJ, was MSN 538, delivered to Japan Airlines from the production line on November 10, 2021. It was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

It further stated that in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 recommendations, Airbus will provide technical assistance to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of France and to the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) in charge of the investigation.

For this purpose, Airbus is presently dispatching a team of specialists to assist the authorities.

Further updates, according to the plane maker will be provided as soon as consolidated information is available and Airbus is authorised to release them.