In Tokyo, Japan, all 379 passengers and crew members managed to escape from an Airbus A350 before it turned into a fireball. Despite the death of five crew members from the Japanese Dash 8 coastal plane that collided with it during landing on Tuesday (January 2), all 379 passengers and crew aboard the Airbus A350 survived the incident.
How did the passengers manage safe evacuation?
According to the flight crew’s instructions, passengers rushed towards the emergency exits of the burning aircraft of the Japanese airline, leaving their carry-on bags behind. At the time of the incident, three inflatable slides were used to evacuate the passengers; however, they were not deployed properly due to the angle of the plane’s landing. The slide was very steep, which could have posed a risk.
What is the main aspect of the evacuation process?
According to aviation experts, the simple step of leaving valuables behind is a “key factor” that accelerates the evacuation speed. This historic evacuation was one of those cases that demonstrated how effective this step was, as the last person managed to escape moments before the flames engulfed the entire aircraft on the runway of Tokyo Haneda Airport on Tuesday (January 2).
How long should the crew take to evacuate passengers in such cases?
According to aviation expert John Cox, the flight of the Japanese airline was an Airbus A350 that holds 380 passengers. He confirmed that in an emergency like this, “you want to get them out in 90 seconds.” Cox praised how the crew managed to get everyone out of the aircraft in time and also lauded the passengers for following their instructions.
What kind of training do crew members receive?
According to a former flight attendant with the Japanese airline, the fact that the passengers landed safely at Haneda Airport was “extremely lucky.” The company confirmed that, in the end, only one passenger on board the flight suffered bruises, while 13 others sought medical consultation due to physical discomfort.
The former attendant said, “I felt relieved when I found out that all the passengers were okay. But when I started thinking about the emergency evacuation procedures, I suddenly felt anxious and scared. Depending on how the two planes collided and how the fire spread, it could have been much worse,” said the former attendant, who worked for the airline 10 years ago.
The former attendant added that all new crew members undergo rigorous evacuation and rescue training for about three weeks before they are allowed to work on commercial flights. The training – which also teaches how to control tone and volume so that passengers can hear you clearly – is repeated every year.
The former attendant, who worked for the company a decade ago, stated: “We undergo a written exam, case study discussions, and practical training using various scenarios, such as when a plane has to land in water or if there is a fire on board. Maintenance staff also participate in such training.”
Finally, all aircraft manufacturers must demonstrate that everyone on board the aircraft is capable of evacuating the plane within 90 seconds for them to obtain international recognition.
(With inputs from news agencies)
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