Terrifying Video Inside Japan Airlines Plane Shows Passengers React to Fire

A video filmed inside a Japan Airlines flight that caught fire on the runway of Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday shows terrified passengers reacting to the blaze, moments before they were evacuated.

The passenger jet—JAL flight 516—burst into flames after colliding with another aircraft which was delivering earthquake relief supplies. It flew into Haneda airport from Japan's northern Sapporo New Chitose Airport at 5:47 p.m. local time.

A clip, which appears to be have been filmed by a passenger after the fire erupted, shows panicked passengers in disbelief as smoke fills the cabin.

"I thought I was going to die," the individual who posted the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote.

All 379 passengers and crew were evacuated without life-threatening injuries, the airline reported.

Public broadcaster NHK said police confirmed that five of the six crew members who were on a Coast Guard aircraft involved in earthquake relief efforts have died as a result of the collision with the passenger plane. The captain is in a serious condition, Nikkei Asia reported.

A passenger on the JAL flight told Kyodo news agency that they "felt a boom" as though the plane had "hit something and jerked upward the moment we landed," Reuters reported.

"I saw sparks outside the window and the cabin filled with gas and smoke," the passenger said.

Newsweek has contacted Japan Airlines for comment via email.

The incident took place a day after a major earthquake hit Japan's west coast, killing at least 48 people. The Coast Guard said the plane that collided with the Japan Airlines passenger jet was set to deliver aid to those affected by the New Year's Day quake.

Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, praised "the professionalism of the flight attendants, crew, and emergency responders who successfully evacuated and saved the lives of all 367 passengers on the JAL flight."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the plane accident at Haneda Airport, especially the missing Japanese Coast Guard personnel who were on their way to help the victims of yesterday's Ishikawa earthquake," Emanuel added in a post on X.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Tuesday its "thoughts are with" the passengers and crew of the Japan Airlines flight and the Coast Guard aircraft.

"The last two days have been difficult for Japan," the association said, referring to Monday's earthquake.

"Our thoughts are with the people of Japan during these challenging times," IATA added.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is investigating the incident. All departing flights from Haneda airport have been suspended for the remainder of Tuesday evening.

Update 1/2/24, 9:03 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.