Flight Attendants praised for safely evacuating passengers before plane explodes in Japan

A crew of flight attendants of Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 are being heralded as heroes after they safely evacuated 367 passengers, 10 minutes before the airplane exploded. The disaster at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on January 2nd was mitigated by flight attendants who took quick action after the plane collided with a smaller coast guard plane while landing.

The coastguard plane was en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims, before the collision at 6pm, which turned both planes into fireballs and tragically claimed five lives out of its six occupants.

As the Airbus A350 skidded down the tarmac, live footage and social media posts captured the intense scene. The crucial factor behind the remarkably swift evacuation, which saved all 367 passengers and 12 crew members, was the well-executed training of the flight attendants and the disciplined response of the passengers to safety protocols.

The in-flight announcement system malfunctioned during the evacuation, but resourceful crew members utilized megaphones to provide crucial instructions, contributing to the well-organized response. Despite the challenges posed by a smoke-filled cabin, passengers navigated the evacuation, leaving behind all luggage which allowed all 367 passengers and twelve crew members sufficient time to slide down the chute, minutes before the plane exploded on the runway.

The fire continued to engulf the aircraft for over six hours, finally being extinguished shortly after midnight. This incident highlights the critical role of prepared and skilled flight attendants, along with cooperative passengers, in averting further tragedy during emergencies.