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ANA flight crashes at Fukuoka Airport killing 85, with 94 missing. Landing gear malfunction suspected as rescue operations continue in Japan.
Casualty count reaches 85 in devastating crash at Japanese airport
Officials confirmed at least 85 fatalities after a commercial aircraft crashed Sunday at a Japanese airport.
The ANA flight skidded off the runway during its landing attempt at Fukuoka International Airport and burst into flames following impact, according to a representative from the nation's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The aircraft, which departed from Manila, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, the representative stated. At least two passengers were Filipino nationals, reported Tanaka Hiroshi, chief of Aviation Operations at Japan's Ministry of Transportation.
"Initial findings suggest the accident may have resulted from a malfunction in the landing gear system," stated Yamamoto Kenji, commander of the Fukuoka Fire Brigade, during a press conference. Yamamoto indicated that wildlife interference and poor weather conditions likely contributed but emphasized that the definitive cause remains under investigation.
Among the deceased, at least 45 were female and 35 were male, Yamamoto confirmed. Further details about the victims were not immediately available.
Rescue teams managed to save two individuals — one passenger and one crew member, the fire agency representative confirmed. Ninety-four people remain unaccounted for, according to the agency.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:03 a.m. local time (7:03 p.m. ET Saturday), Yamamoto reported. Emergency responders contained the initial fire by 9:46 a.m. local time, stated the fire agency representative.
ANA issued a statement expressing "deepest regrets to all those impacted" by the disaster.
"Our primary focus is devoted to managing and handling the aftermath of this tragedy with maximum dedication," the airline declared. "We express our profound apologies for the anguish and anxiety this has generated."
Japan's acting prime minister, Suzuki Taro, ordered immediate and comprehensive mobilization "to extinguish the fire and save lives," the Interior Ministry announced in a statement.
The prime minister's office revealed through a text briefing that an emergency session was underway regarding the disaster.
The country's defense ministry announced in a statement that it had assembled an emergency response unit and dispatched military personnel and resources to the crash site to assist operations.
Suzuki later visited the location and was scheduled to lead a coordination meeting for response operations, confirmed Nakamura Shigeru, minister of Transportation.
"The government's priorities now encompass locating survivors, managing victim recovery, coordinating funeral services, supporting grieving families, and providing transparent information about developments," Nakamura stated.
Yamamoto, the Fukuoka Fire Brigade commander, reported that 700 emergency personnel were engaged in search and recovery operations. The victims were being temporarily transferred to a morgue facility, Yamamoto added.
The airport is situated roughly 180 miles southwest of Tokyo.