JAPAN PLANE FIRE: Coast Guard flight ‘was not equipped with modern ADS-B transponder’

Flight Radar 24, which tracks flights across the world, has offered more details on the collision. 

It said the accident happened at 5.47pm local time as the Japan Airlines flight was landing. 

The Japan Coast Guard aircraft is a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-315Q MPA – also known as a Bombardier Dash-8 – with registration JA772A. 

It was not equipped with a modern ADS-B transponder, Flight Radar said. 

ADS-B transponders are used to transmit highly accurate information about an aircraft’s position to ground controllers and directly to other aircraft.

It is more accurate than using conventional radar surveillance. 

Passengers share pictures of evacuation

Social media users who say they were on board the Japan Airlines flight have shared images from outside the burning plane. 

Hundreds of people appear to be huddled near the runway as flames rise from the aircraft. 

In another video, which has not been verified yet, the plane appears to be taxiing along the runway in flames. 

At least 70 fire trucks deployed

The local fire department has deployed at least 70 fire trucks to tackle the blazes, public broadcaster NHK is reporting. 

All runways at the airport have been closed. 

Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport, was the busiest in the Asia Pacific region in 2023, according to global flight data provider OAG.