Urgent Statement for
the Accident at Tokyo International Airport on Jan 2nd ,2024

We would like to express our deepest condolences to the Japan Coast Guard
personnel and their families who were killed in the collision between a Japan Airlines A350
and a Japan Coast Guard DH8C aircraft that occurred at Tokyo International Airport (HanedaAirport) on January 2nd, 2024. We also pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured in this
accident, and extend our sympathy to all concerned.
We, Japan Federation of Civil Aviation Workers’ Unions for Air Safety (JFAS), wereestablished in 1966, triggered by a series of aircraft accidents that occurred in February andMarch 1966 (All Nippon Airways B727 accident off Haneda Airport, Canadian Airlines B707
accident at Haneda Airport, and BOAC B707 midair crash over Mt. Fuji). And we are in active
during 58 years, with the goal of eliminating aviation accidents in Japan.
JFAS is composed of staffs involved in the field of aviation (pilots, air trafficcontrollers, mechanics, flight attendants, ground handlers, meteorological agency officials,
customs officials, etc.). And JFAS requests of the relevant ministries and agencies theimprovements of all safety factors in each field. Although various improvements have been
made so far, we are aware that there are still various issues to be addressed in order to achieveaviation safety.
Unfortunately, the recent aircraft accident at Tokyo International Airport
demonstrates that aviation safety is far from accomplished. And we say that a careful andaccurate accident investigation should be conducted by the Japan Transport Safety Board(JTSB). Therefore, the fact-finding is the sole and highest priority, eliminating speculation
and accurately understand.
In order to achieve this, all members of the press and those who disseminate
information on social networking sites must eliminate speculation and imagination about thisaccident and deal only with accurate information.
When an aircraft accident occurs in Japan, it is customary for the police to investigate
with the aim of determining the cause of the accident, but this is not an accident investigation

as required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). There were many casesthat were interfered with investigates the cause of the accident by the Police investigation inJapan. Police investigations are not to determine the cause of an accident, but criminal
investigations.
The principle of ICAO Annex 13 is to investigate the cause of an aircraft accident
and prevent recurrence, since there are potentially multiple factors that may have contributed
to the occurrence of an accident. The reason for this is that there is a belief that identifying
the cause of an aircraft accident will contribute to the prevention of further accidents.
Therefore, Japan, which has ratified ICAO, is required to accurately understand and complywith its true meaning.
In addition, in Japan, the results of accident investigations by JTSB are used incriminal investigations and as trial evidence. These actions are unacceptable and deviate fromthe provisions of ICAO, which prohibits the use of investigation results except in cases where
there is clear evidence of a crime.
JFAS strongly states that the highest priority in the investigation of this aircraft
accident should be given to the accident investigation, and never to the criminal investigation,and that the results of the investigation should not be used for any purpose other than toprevent a recurrence of the accident.
JFAS expresses its willingness to cooperate to the fullest extent with the various
investigations into this aircraft accident, and will further strengthen our activities to eliminate
aircraft accidents.
Jan 03, 2024
Chairman Takemichi NAGAI
Japan Federation of Civil Aviation Workers’ Unions for Air Safety
Contact us：Haneda 5-11-4,O-ta,Tokyo JAPANe-mail ： hq@jfas-sky.jp
HP ： https://jfas-sky.jp
Remark：Translated from Japanese statement. The Japanese statement takes precedence. So pleaserefer to our website: https://jfas-sky.jp.