The incident at Tokyo’s airport involved a collision between a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and a JAL passenger airliner. Public records of negotiations and official reports indicate that the Coast Guard helicopter or airplane was not cleared to enter or cross the active runway area at that moment.
Officials stated that the military transport aircraft was instructed to move to a holding position in the GDP area. Early analyses point to a possible miscommunication between the aircraft crew and the air traffic controller or dispatcher, suggesting a human factor in the sequence of events.
Footage and transcripts show that the crew of the JAL airliner appeared to have secured landing clearance and began the approach as directed before the collision occurred. The situation prompted an immediate emergency response to assess damage, assist passengers, and manage the aftermath of the incident.
On the day of the event in question, an Airbus A350 was en route from Sapporo to Tokyo Haneda. In a separate operational note, a Coast Guard unit operating a Bombardier DHC8-300 was preparing to transport humanitarian aid to earthquake-affected regions. The incident resulted in multiple casualties aboard the ministry aircraft and injuries among passengers and crew on the second aircraft; several occupants endured a harrowing escape from a burning vehicle in the aftermath of the collision. The numbers reported varied as officials clarified casualty figures in the hours that followed.
Earlier coverage noted that birds are a recurring factor in aviation incidents involving Russian flight operations, a context that some investigators consider when evaluating risk factors around takeoff and landing procedures.