Different perceptions
New information obtained by NHK reveal that the JAL and the Coast Guard pilots had different perceptions of the situation before their planes collided.
The pilot of the Coast Guard aircraft said he thought he was cleared for takeoff, and that his plane was hit from behind after he increased engine power.
The JAL pilots told their company that they received clearance to land, and repeated the instructions back to the air traffic controller.
They said there were no subsequent transmissions from the traffic controller to other planes. They added that it was quiet in the cockpit and they were able to concentrate on landing the plane.
The pilots said nothing seemed amiss on the runway until touchdown.
Video graphic based on NHK news coverage
JAL pilot 'Uncontrollable after a strong blow'
Landing
The collision occurred after the JAL plane landed.
The JAL pilots said the aircraft landed normally, immediately after which they momentarily saw "something." They said there was a strong jolt and it felt like the aircraft was skidding down the runway.
They said the captain tried to apply the brakes, and operate the tail rudder and steering mechanism, among other actions, but they didn't function. The captain said they realized the plane was "uncontrollable."
Stop beside the runway
Footage by a passenger shows orange flames outside a window
The plane came to a stop beside the runway and the pilots said the cockpit was pitch black. They quickly realized an emergency evacuation would be necessary.
When conducting an emergency evacuation, the engines are supposed to be turned off and the fire extinguishers activated.
18 minutes: All 379 passengers and crew escaped
All 379 people on board the burning jet escaped to safety 18 minutes after landing.
The pilots said that after the initial impact they heard voices from the cabin calling on the passengers to remain calm.
Footage by a passenger taken right after the landing
The cockpit door was open and the chief cabin attendant dashed in to report the situation. Acknowledging the emergency, the captain ordered an immediate evacuation.
The JAL plane was equipped with eight emergency exits. The two at the front — on the left and the right — were opened and the emergency chutes were deployed.
The two copilots told the passengers in the front seats to leave their belongings and exit from the front. They used a megaphone to direct the passengers in the rear seats to do the same.
Video from a passenger shows people sliding down a chute
Meanwhile, the captain headed toward the rear of the plane. He said he found a passenger crouching down and led the person to the front.
He then continued making his way to the back of the plane, checking for passengers who may have been left behind. The captain also confirmed that five emergency doors at the center and the rear, right side, were unusable.
By this time, most passengers from the front section of the plane had evacuated, so the two copilots also made their way toward the rear of the aircraft, which was filled with smoke.
One copilot, who was returning to the cockpit to get a facemask, found another passenger and led the person to the front.
At this point, the captain felt it was too dangerous for the copilots to go to the rear of the plane, and ordered them to exit via the front chute.
The two copilots and the chief cabin attendant exited by the front left chute after confirming no passengers remained in the front section of the plane.
The captain, the last person on the plane, after confirming no one else was in the back of the plane, evacuated from the rear exit.
The Japan Transport Safety Board is now investigating the accident, including the emergency evacuation procedure.