Summary
- Japan Airlines estimates that the hull lack of the A350-900 will cost ¥15 billion ($104.81 million) after the aircraft caught fire in a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on the runway.
- AIG is the lead insurer on a $130 million “all-risks” policy that mainly covers hull damage for the Japanese aircraft.
- The Airbus A350-900 involved within the accident was delivered to Japan Airlines two years ago and primarily operated on domestic and short-haul routes.
In response to Nikkei Asia, Japan Airlines (JAL) has estimated that the hull lack of the A350-900 will cost roughly ¥15 billion ($104.81 million). The aircraft was engulfed in flames following its collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on the runway and burned for greater than six hours despite continuous efforts to place out the hearth.
The accident marks the first-ever hull lack of an A350 aircraft because it was introduced into service nearly nine years ago by Qatar Airlines. It also marks the primary hull loss for Japan Airlines because the lack of Flight 123 in 1985.
In response to Reuters, AIG is the lead insurer on a $130 million “all-risks” policy for the Japanese aircraft, mainly covering hull damage. The airline can also be working with other insurers to compensate passengers.
Everyone aboard the A350 survived, with few suffering non-life-threatening injuries. The crew and 367 passengers (including eight infants) were evacuated inside 20 minutes of the aircraft coming to a stop. Nevertheless, five of the six occupants aboard the Coast Guard Dash 8 have lost their lives.
Japan Airlines & Airbus Share Updates On A350 Collision
The reason for the accident is under investigation.
Crews at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) began to maneuver the charred stays of the aircraft to hangars on January fifth and aim to finish the method by the seventh. Airport officials hope to have the runway operational by the eighth.
Accident investigations
Preliminary investigations are still underway, but ATC transcripts show that Flight JL516 was cleared to land on runway 34R. The Dash 8 was told to taxi to carry point C5 but did not accomplish that and taxied onto the runway. Coast Guard officials have said that the captain of the Dash 8 said he entered the runway with permission but acknowledged that there was no evidence of this on the ATC transcripts.
Photo: Viper-Zero | Shutterstock
NOTAMs on the time of the incident also show that the hold short lights at the doorway to runway 34R were out of service. The shortage of warning lights on the hold short point could have affected the choice to taxi onto the runway.
In regards to the aircraft involved
The Airbus A350-900, registered JA13XJ, was delivered to Japan Airlines just over two years ago, on November tenth, 2021. The airline selected the 367-seat high-density configuration for the aircraft, which primarily flew domestic and short-haul routes.
The configuration includes 12 first-class seats, 94 business-class seats, and 263 economy-class seats. Because it was put into service, the aircraft has flown 4,421 hours over 3,220 cycles.
Photo: Joanna Bailey
The Coast Guard aircraft was a De Havilland Dash 8-315Q, registered JA722A. The aircraft had been delivered in 2008 and has gathered 7,573 hours over 2,700 cycles. On the time of the collision, the aircraft conducted its third trip in 24 hours.