On March 23, 2020, a collision occurred between two wide-body aircraft on the taxiway at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The incident involved an Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER and a Turkish Airlines Airbus A330-300. The incident report released by the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the collision and the factors that contributed to it.
According to the report, the Air Canada flight was taxiing to its assigned gate after landing at Haneda Airport. At the same time, the Turkish Airlines flight was preparing to depart from the same gate. The Air Canada flight was being guided by a ground controller, while the Turkish Airlines flight was being guided by a marshaller. As the Air Canada flight approached the gate, it turned left onto a taxiway that was not wide enough for two aircraft to pass each other.
The ground controller instructed the Air Canada flight to stop and wait for the Turkish Airlines flight to move out of the way. However, due to a miscommunication between the ground controller and the Air Canada flight crew, the aircraft continued to taxi towards the gate. At the same time, the Turkish Airlines flight was also moving towards the gate, following the marshaller’s instructions.
As the two aircraft approached each other on the narrow taxiway, the Air Canada flight attempted to turn right to avoid a collision. However, it was too late, and the wingtip of the Air Canada aircraft collided with the tail of the Turkish Airlines aircraft. The collision caused damage to both aircraft, but fortunately, there were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew members.
The JTSB report identified several factors that contributed to the incident. One of the main factors was a breakdown in communication between the ground controller and the Air Canada flight crew. The report noted that the ground controller’s instructions were not clear enough, and the Air Canada crew did not fully understand what was expected of them.
Another factor was the lack of situational awareness on the part of both flight crews. The Air Canada crew did not realize that they were approaching a narrow taxiway, while the Turkish Airlines crew did not anticipate that another aircraft would be approaching from the opposite direction.
The JTSB report also highlighted the importance of effective training and procedures for ground controllers and flight crews. It recommended that airlines and airports review their procedures for taxiing and ground operations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In conclusion, the collision of two wide-body aircraft on the taxiway at Tokyo Haneda Airport was a serious incident that could have had catastrophic consequences. The incident report provides valuable insights into the factors that contributed to the collision and highlights the importance of effective communication, situational awareness, and training for all personnel involved in ground operations. By implementing the recommendations of the JTSB report, airlines and airports can improve their safety procedures and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
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- Source: Plato Data Intelligence.