Earlier this week in Japan, a Dash 8 twin turboprop airliner had a close call with an airport vehicle during its landing. The vehicle was on the runway for bird control duties when the regional airliner, operated by ANA Wings, landed after a last-minute switch due to bad weather. Thankfully, the vehicle managed to clear the runway just in time, avoiding any collision. This incident, however, raises concerns about aviation safety in Japan, especially after a tragic accident last year involving a landing aircraft and another plane. An investigation is now underway to understand what went wrong.
The flight in question, All Nippon Airways flight NH4841, is a domestic service from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to Wakkanai (WKJ). Unlike some busier routes in Japan that use larger aircraft, this route is served by Dash 8 turboprops through ANA’s regional subsidiary, ANA Wings. According to reports, the near-miss occurred on August 20 when the aircraft landed on a runway that was still being vacated by an airport vehicle. ANA confirmed that the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) reported the bird control vehicle was on the runway as the plane made its final approach.
The Dash 8 had 74 passengers on board and was navigating through stormy weather, which led the pilots to change their approach and runway at Wakkanai Airport. Unfortunately, this change wasn’t communicated to local air traffic controllers, resulting in the plane landing on a runway that had just been cleared by the bird control vehicle. The airport staff had to quickly move off the runway upon realizing the plane was landing. This incident highlights the critical nature of communication in aviation, especially in light of past accidents in Japan.
#AviationSafety #NearMiss #JapanAviation
Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
