FedEx Plane Crashes in Tokyo

by Jordan Yerman | March 22, 2009 at 04:48 pm

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Update: the two crewmembers aboard the FedEx cargo plane that crashed at Tokyo's Narita Airport were killed in the incident.

The pilot and co-pilot aboard a FedEx cargo plane were killed when the plane burst into flames Monday at Tokyo's Narita airport in Japan, airport and hospital officials said.

A FedEx cargo plane crashed at Tokyo's Narita Airport today, and was destroyed on impact.

Reports conflict regarding the fate of the two crewmembers. Most sources are saying that both crewmembers were killed in the crash.

"We have information that strong winds caused the plane to divert from the runway," a Narita Airport spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said the plane was a FedEx cargo flight from Guangzhou, China and a FedEx logo was clearly visible on the upturned remains of the aircraft.

Two crew members were confirmed dead after a Federal Express Corp cargo plane crashed and burst into flames as it landed at Narita international airport on Monday, Japan's TV Asahi reported.

Fire engines and scores of fire-fighters in flame retardant silver suits rushed to the crash site near the runway and doused the fire with foam as the gutted aircraft lay upside down billowing black smoke.

The four-kilometre (2.5-mile) airstrip, one of the airport's two runways, was closed to air traffic, airport officials said.

The two pilots were believed to be US citizens, NHK said.

Public broadcaster NHK said one person was pulled from the wreckage. There were two pilots on board, NHK said.

A call to FedEx’s Hong Kong office before regular business hours wasn’t immediately returned.

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Uwe Paschen

at 17:25 on March 22nd, 2009

There is a video of the Crash here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/22/fedex-plane-crash-at-toky_n_177831.html

Uwe Paschen

at 17:27 on March 22nd, 2009

"We confirm the deaths of the two pilots," Katsuji Komiyama, an official at Narita Red Cross hospital told AFP.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iBcfTk67R97kWK9Fo0HrH86OuUeQ

Uwe Paschen

at 17:32 on March 22nd, 2009

I live 15 minutes from the Airport and we do have high winds and had storm like gust since yesterday.

This being Spring and being close to the sea shore is normal yet dangerous even for driving just a car on the road.

It could be that the plane was flipped by the high winds given its speed at landing and depending on the angle at wish the wind would come.

Those wind gust are dangerous since they are unpredictable.

Uwe Paschen

at 18:55 on March 22nd, 2009

It is called Tokyo Narita International Airport, however it is in Narita Shi, about 35 min from Tokyo by Express train or 50 min by Car taking the Highway.

The 51 Hyw runs directly under the landing lane of the Airport.