Possibility of Human Error

As investigation on the collision of two planes in Haneda Airport continues, the situation of the accident has eventually been revealed. According to the news reports, the air traffic controller did not permit the Japan Coast Guard plane to enter in the runway, where it collided with landing Japan Airlines plane. But the controller did not notice that JCG plane was on the runway for certain period of time. Although cause of the accident has not been determined, it is likely that it was brought by some human errors.

The communication record, released by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, indicates that the air traffic controller did not give permission to JCG plane to enter the runway. But the captain of JCG plane said that he had received permission to take off from the controller. Japan Transport Safety Board has obtained the communication records from both planes and analyzes the records.

 

Yomiuri Shimbun reported that JCG plane stopped on the runway for 40 seconds before the collision. The air traffic controllers watch four runways of Haneda Airport, and a pair of controllers is in charge of each runway. Although JCG plane entered the runway without permission, the controller did not notice the move. Therefore, they did not demand JAL plane to go around for avoiding collision.

 

The air traffic control in Haneda, Yomiuri also reported, had introduced a system which gives alerts to controller when a plane entered runway where another plane is approaching for landing. When such crisis is predicted, the runway in danger will be lit up yellow in the monitor screen and the plane will turn red. The system is supposed to have working when the collision occurred on January 2nd. The system is introduced not only in Haneda but other six airports in Japan.

 

Another report of Yomiuri revealed that the captain of JCG plane recognized permission to enter the runway with other crews. He also explains that he did not know about the landing of JAL plane. According to Kyodo News, the captain of JCG plane may have not heard the exchanges between JAL plane and the air traffic controller as his radio may have been set at a different frequency.

 

After the accident, hundreds of flights, not only JAL but All Nippon Airways or other airlines, were cancelled. Fixing the problems in air traffic cannot be delayed. However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida only touched on the accident in his press conferences in the context of whether it affected relieving efforts for the earthquake in Noto Peninsula. Considering major impact of the accident on transportation system all over Japan, it is at least necessary for Kishida to thoroughly review the safety of air traffic control in every airport. 

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