Coast Guard captain retracts statement after accident
“Receive permission to enter the runway” → “Permission is mistaken”
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japan Transportation Safety Board and others are investigating the details of the incident as the possibility that the ‘Number One’ communication, which means departure order number 1, was a factor in the mis-entry was the cause of the collision between Japan Airlines and the Japan Coast Guard aircraft on the runway at Haneda Airport. It was reported.
According to reports, the Metropolitan Police and the Coast Guard conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the accident immediately after the collision, and the Transportation Safety Board also began a hearing and investigation on the 25th of last month after the seriously injured captain was moved to general status. did.
The Transportation Safety Board is in full swing with its investigation to determine the cause of the accident, including analyzing the voice recorder (CVR, a device that records communications and conversations inside the cockpit) of Japan Airlines passenger planes and Coast Guard transport planes.
The captain of the Coast Guard initially explained to the Coast Guard and others on the night of the accident (January 2), “We entered after receiving permission to enter the runway.” However, Yomiuri reported that he later made a statement to the effect that he had misunderstood and mentioned circumstances such as the “Number One” communication.
Captain Lee said in an interview with the Transportation Safety Board, “After hearing ‘Number One’ from the air traffic controller, I repeated the instructions and entered the runway. He reportedly explained, “I mistakenly thought I had received permission.”
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said it “cannot deny” the possibility that communications including “Number One” may have led to a misunderstanding on the part of the Coast Guard, and that air traffic controllers have stopped actively providing information about the order of departures at domestic airports in Japan.
The Nippon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) said, “The view that the accident involved multiple human errors is growing stronger,” and “The controller ordered the vehicle to drive to a stop position just in front of the runway and did not allow entry. “In reality, Captain Try explained that ‘entry permission has been received,’ so it is possible that air traffic control recognized the word ‘number one’, which indicates takeoff priority, as entry permission,” he pointed out.
The newspaper also said, “A surveillance system that alerts attention was activated on the controller’s monitor screen when a mis-entry onto the runway is detected, but it does not appear to have been noticed,” and “Japan Airlines was also unable to determine the presence of the Coast Guard aircraft.” explained.
Accordingly, Nikkei reported that the Haneda Airport Accident Safety Measures Review Committee, hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, will focus on discussing three measures, including strengthening the function of the surveillance system, verifying control terminology, and reviewing the deployment and division of air traffic controllers.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.