January 10, 2024

A fatal collision occurred between a Japan Airlines passenger jet and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft on January 2 at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. All 379 passengers and crew were evacuated safely. Five of the six coast guard crew were killed.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Takahashi Chizuko on January 9, at the Lower House members’ office building, met with the Japan Federation of Aviation Workers’ Unions (Kohkuren) representatives and exchanged views regarding ways to determine the cause and prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The union pointed out that it is necessary to investigate the accident based on principles of the Chicago Convention (formally the Convention on International Civil Aviation) which establishes international rules regarding aviation safety. The union also stressed the need to take measures to prevent a recurrence and improve airport and aviation safety in accordance with the convention’s principles.

Kohkuren Secretary General Kurita Hiroyuki pointed out that the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) which investigates aircraft accidents and the National Police Agency confirmed that police investigations have priority when an aircraft accident occurs. He pointed out that police investigations aim to ascertain whether a person should be charged with an offense and thus police-led investigations could hinder the cause of the accident from being determined. He called for JCP efforts to work to help identify the true cause of the accident.

Takahashi in reply said that it is important for the JTSB to demonstrate its independence in investigations into the accident and ability to offer suggestion to prevent a recurrence.

Kohkuren Vice President Hiraiwa Motomi appealed the need to deploy the same number of cabin attendants as the number of aircraft doors on the premise of the possibility of having an accident.

Takahashi said that she will urge the government to revise a relevant law so that cabin crew will be positioned as security personnel.