A woman who was flying with her son said she heard a loud bang and thought the plane had hit a bird but after the plane landed she spotted flames on the right. She said the cabin attendants were initially telling people to stay seated and leave their baggage. But she says people were rushing to the front of the plane anyway.
She said the lights in the cabin were out and all she could see in the darkness was the fire. She said the plane was getting hotter and she thought, "This is it. There's no way to be saved."
Aircraft filled with smoke
A woman in her 20s from Saitama City was traveling with her daughter. She says she didn't realize anything was wrong until the plane landed, the cabin began filling with smoke and she noticed the flames outside. She says there were many children on board and they were crying.
One passenger said he realized it was serious when he saw the smoke. He said there was an announcement saying the rear and middle doors could not be opened and ordering everyone to evacuate from the front of the aircraft.
Message from a daughter
A man who was waiting at Haneda Airport for his daughter says he received a photo from her from inside the plane showing the orange blaze through the window.
He says he was greatly relieved when she sent a video from outside showing the emergency slide, and told reporters that he couldn't wait to be reunited with her.
A passenger returning to Tokyo from his hometown said the landing seemed normal at first. "It was the same as usual, but after a boom, it turned orange outside. Then I had to unbuckle my seatbelt to avoid inhaling the smoke," he recalled. He said at the time, the only thing on his mind was to protect his children. He said the accident was shocking but he's glad they are safe.
All 379 passengers and crew that were on Flight 516 evacuated safely but 14 of them were injured.
