Japanese Coast Guard plane may not have been cleared for takeoff

Japanese authorities investigating the collision of a JCG Bombardier Dash-8 and a Japan Airlines (JAL) airliner on 2 January have confirmed that the airliner was cleared to land, according to air traffic control transcripts.

However, no permission could be found in the transcripts for the JCG plane to take off. The last recorded instruction given to the Dash-8 was for it to ‘taxi to holding point C5’ – a request the JCG plane is recorded as having acknowledged.

The transcripts appear to contradict a statement given by the Coast Guard plane’s captain – the sole survivor of a crew of six – who told investigators that he had been given permission to enter the runway.

The investigation of the collision – being conducted by the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) – has now reportedly been given the voice recorder from the JCG plane. It is hoped that the recorder will provide further insights into the cause of the incident.

At the time of the crash, the JCG Dash-8 was departing for Niigata Prefecture to provide support to the local population following the New Year’s Day earthquake in central Japan.