Investigators focus on air traffic communication after a fatal Tokyo runway crash

By FOSTER KLUG and MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — A transcript of communication between traffic control and two aircraft that collided and burst into flames at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport shows that only the larger Japan Airlines passenger flight was given permission to use the runway. An orange fireball erupted from both the aircraft Tuesday evening as the JAL plane continued down the runway covered in flames. Within 20 minutes, all 379 passengers and crew members slid down emergency chutes and survived. The pilot of the coast guard Bombardier Dash-8 plane evacuated with injuries but five crew members were killed. The Transport Ministry released a transcript Wednesday of air traffic control communication that showed no clear takeoff approval was given to the coast guard plane.