A miracle? That’s how more than 350 people were saved in Japan minutes before the plane exploded.

The collision between a Japan Airlines passenger plane and a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft that occurred at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport fortunately did not result in any fatalities, thanks to the quick action of the flight attendants, who managed to evacuate all 367 passengers and 12 crew members from the commercial flight.

A miracle? That’s how more than 350 people were saved in Japan minutes before the plane exploded.

Although tragically, five people lost their lives on the Coast Guard aircraft, it is considered a miracle that there were no further casualties in this air accident, especially given the absence of more serious consequences and the prevention of a larger tragedy.

Japan Airlines received praise for their ability to safely and efficiently evacuate all passengers despite being under significant pressure. Despite the presence of fire and smoke in the cabin, the JAL crew concealed their concerns and maximized their safety training.

According to the airline, the 367 passengers and 12 crew members were successfully disembarked in under 20 minutes, possibly even within just 90 seconds according to some accounts.

The quick action of the crew in deploying the evacuation slides allowed all passengers, including several children, to slide to safety before an explosion occurred on the aircraft.

Passengers expressed gratitude and considered the outcome a miracle, with three key factors contributing to the successful evacuation:

  1. The pilot’s maneuver: stopping the aircraft, which was skidding and resembling a ball of fire, on its nose.

  2. The crew’s performance, overcoming a malfunctioning public address system to calmly instruct passengers using megaphones.

  3. The cooperation of passengers, remaining seated before heading to the evacuation slides and leaving their carry-on luggage at the mercy of the flames.

Several factors enabled passengers to escape from the stricken aircraft, including the absence of dense smoke inside the cabin, allowing them to see and breathe, albeit with difficulty. Additionally, the aircraft was constructed with innovative materials that delayed combustion, causing the flames to spread slowly. These crucial minutes of delay allowed passengers to escape.

Professor Ed Galea from the University of Greenwich praised the evacuation of the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 after the aircraft crashed and caught fire. Despite the challenges, passengers were evacuated through three doors, guided to safety by a crew member. A Japan Airlines spokesperson confirmed that all passengers were evacuated within 90 seconds.

Trisha Ferguson, CEO of Interaction Group, a company that designs aircraft safety cards, emphasized the importance of cooperation between passengers and staff in a recent incident where a Japan Airlines aircraft caught fire on the runway.

Ferguson praised the crew’s response times and the swift evacuation of passengers, noting that none of them delayed in retrieving their carry-on luggage, ensuring a clear path to the emergency exits.

Experts also highlighted the high safety standards of Japan Airlines, reflected in their safety video urging passengers to leave their luggage when evacuating to avoid obstructions on the evacuation slides.

John Cox, a pilot and founder of a US-based aviation safety consulting firm, commended the crew’s swift passenger evacuation, citing their excellent training and the absence of delays caused by carry-on luggage.

Paul Hayes, director of aviation safety at the UK-based aviation consultancy Ascend by Cirium, also praised the crew’s performance as excellent, noting that the absence of carry-on luggage was crucial for the successful evacuation.

These achievements reflect the lessons learned by airlines from past tragedies, such as the JAL accident in 1985, leading to a greater emphasis on emergency training for both crew and passengers and a tightening of safety regulations in the aviation industry.

The accident attributed to a faulty repair by Boeing has left a lasting impression on Japan Airlines’ safety culture.

Despite this, they have managed to become one of the safest airlines in the world, according to airlineratings.com.

Professor Graham Braithwaite, an expert in transportation systems, praised JAL’s phenomenal safety record and hailed them as global leaders in this aspect.

The successful evacuation of the stricken aircraft demonstrates the investment in crew training and reinforces the company’s commitment to safety.

READ ALSO:Tragedies continue: Plane engulfed in flames in Japan (VIDEO)

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