The Japan Airlines Flight JL516 incident at Tokyo Haneda really taught us a lot of lessons. First, the importance of paying attention to the safety briefing. Second, it showed us the true worth and essence of flight attendants. Many still think the only job of cabin crew is to “serve chicken or beef.” In reality, their primary duty is to ensure the safety and security of all passengers, which was clearly demonstrated in the JL516 event. Hence, here is a recount of how the JAL cabin crew was able to evacuate 367 passengers before the Airbus A350 went into complete flames.
On a seemingly regular Tuesday, passengers aboard a Japan Airlines jet experienced a harrowing incident when their plane collided with a smaller aircraft on a Tokyo runway. Despite the suddenness of the event, the cabin crew’s rapid response played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of all 367 passengers. Within 18 minutes, everyone was off the plane and accounted for, a testament to the crew’s efficiency and training.
Emergency Protocols in Action
Following the collision, the cabin crew immediately sprang into action. They calmly instructed passengers to remain seated as flames engulfed parts of the Airbus A350 wide-body jet and smoke filled the cabin. By quickly assessing the situation and deciding which of the eight emergency exits were safe, the crew demonstrated their readiness for such emergencies. Their clear and direct commands, such as “leave your luggage” and “not this door,” ensured a smooth and orderly evacuation.
Passengers like 28-year-old Tsubasa Sawada expressed their gratitude for the crew’s swift actions. Sawada mentioned hearing an explosion about 10 minutes after evacuating the plane, highlighting the critical nature of the crew’s quick decision-making.
Evacuation Chutes and Crew Training
The evacuation protocol required the crew to get permission from the cockpit before opening any emergency exits. Once granted, they efficiently managed the evacuation, even in the absence of functioning public announcement and intercom systems at one of the rear exits. Their yearly training in various evacuation scenarios, including situations where communication with the cockpit is impossible, proved invaluable.
By 6:05 p.m., 18 minutes after landing, all passengers had safely slid down the three evacuation chutes, marking the completion of the evacuation process.
A First for the Airbus A350
This incident was notable as the first significant accident involving the Airbus A350, a leading long-haul jet in Europe since 2015. The A350-900 model involved in the collision was certified to evacuate a full load of up to 440 passengers in 90 seconds using only half of its exits. While the exact duration of the physical evacuation remains unclear, safety experts globally will scrutinize this incident to refine future evacuation procedures.
An Airbus spokesperson commended the JAL cabin crew for their exemplary execution of the evacuation protocol. JAL officials also acknowledged the crew’s adherence to proper procedures and lauded the passengers, including eight pre-school children, for their orderly conduct during the evacuation.
Indeed, the incident underscores the critical importance of passengers following crew instructions during emergencies. Aviation safety agencies have long warned about the risks of pausing to collect carry-on baggage during an evacuation. Noriyuki Aoki, senior vice president of general affairs at JAL, emphasized this at a press briefing, noting that the passengers’ cooperation was instrumental in the swift evacuation process.
We don’t need another incident like that to prove my point about never taking safety instructions for granted. The majority of aviation catastrophes begin as routine flights. No matter how many times you fly on a plane, never disregard safety instructions. Last but not least, know that your flight attendants are highly trained safety professionals. They can definitely do more than just “serving chicken or beef.” Both JL516 and OZ214 have demonstrated the true essence of our cabin crew.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
