Japan Airlines flight aborts takeoff after hitting runway lights
- A Japan Airlines aircraft carrying 80 passengers experienced a runway incident during takeoff.
- The plane veered nearly 30 meters off the center line and hit runway lights, prompting an emergency stop.
- An investigation has been launched into the incident, with maintenance work on the runway likely contributing to the confusion.
On April 8, 2025, a Japan Airlines aircraft was involved in an incident during its takeoff from Tokyo-Haneda Airport. The flight, designated JAL377, had 80 passengers on board and was scheduled to travel to Kitakyushu in western Japan. Shortly after obtaining clearance from air traffic control, the aircraft began its takeoff at approximately 7:10 PM local time. However, during the takeoff roll, the crew noticed that the plane veered significantly off the runway's center line, which is typically marked by a series of white lights. Instead of aligning with these lights, the aircraft deviated nearly 30 meters to the left. As the aircraft continued its roll, it ran for around 300 meters before making contact with the runway lights on its left edge, resulting in damage to several of them. The left main landing gear and wing of the aircraft had partially left the paved surface. Upon noticing the deviation from the center line, the crew promptly decided to abort the takeoff and returned to the parking lot for passenger safety. Following the emergency stop, passengers were deboarded, and Japan Airlines arranged for them to be flown to their destination on a different flight around midnight, significantly delaying their travel plans by over five hours. The incident prompted an investigation by the transport ministry, which noted that maintenance work had been ongoing on the runway since the previous month. It was revealed that some center line lights had been sequentially turned off during this maintenance, which may have contributed to the confusion experienced by the flight crew. Flights operating on the runway were also delayed for about 50 minutes while the situation was addressed. The airline has been contacted for further comment on the incident, and steps are expected to be taken to enhance safety measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This incident highlights the importance of clear visual signaling on runways, especially during maintenance periods. The incident exemplifies the challenges and critical nature of air traffic safety, emphasizing the need for rigorous communication between air traffic control and airline crews regardless of the current operational status of the runway. The ramifications of incidents such as these can be significant, affecting both passenger safety and operational efficiency at major airports.