• A report concludes that human error caused the deadly collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in January.
• The pilot of the Japan Coast Guard plane misinterpreted air traffic control instructions.
• Limited visibility and air traffic control oversight were additional factors in the collision.

A report released Wednesday from the Japan Transport Safety Board concluded that human error was the primary cause of a deadly collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

The incident occurred on January 2, 2024, when a Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger plane arriving from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo barreled into a Japan Coast Guard plane waiting on the runway.

According to the report, the Coast Guard pilot mistakenly believed he had clearance to enter the runway. The air traffic controller told the coast guard plane that it was "No. 1," meaning it was first in line to take off and meant to stop and wait at a holding point. The pilot misinterpreted the instruction, believing it to be permission to enter the runway for takeoff.

In the final moments before the collision, the Coast Guard pilot ordered his co-pilot to go through a checklist that is typically performed once final takeoff clearance has been granted. The pilot, who survived, told investigators he thought he heard "cleared for takeoff" from the control tower.

The report noted that the pilot said he was in a hurry, which could have contributed to the misinterpretation. The Coast Guard plane was traveling to the city of Niigata to deliver emergency supplies after recent earthquakes on Japan's west coast, and the pilot said he was worried about his crew getting home late from the mission.

The report said that there were other contributing factors to the collision: Air traffic control failed to realize that the Coast Guard plane had entered the runway, despite the runway occupancy alert, and the JAL plane didn't see the other aircraft as it was descending due to limited visibility. The accident occurred around 5:47 p.m., after sunset.

Five of the six people aboard the Coast Guard aircraft died. The pilot survived but was seriously injured.

All 379 passengers and crew on the passenger plane escaped just before the jet erupted into flames.

Waymo will begin testing its autonomous vehicle technology in Tokyo in early 2025, the first time the Alphabet company’s robotaxis have driven on public roads outside the U.S. The move to Japan is part of Waymo’s “road trips,” a development program that involves bringing its technology to a variety of cities and testing it — […]

© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

• Japan Airlines is offering a same-day luggage delivery service for visitors to Tokyo.
• The service costs $29, and the airline says it will help combat "congestion" on public transport.
• The weak yen has made Japan a popular destination for visitors from countries including the US.

Japan Airlines is offering to deliver luggage to your hotel or accommodation when you visit Tokyo.

The same-day service costs 4,500 yen ($29) per suitcase and is available from terminal three at Haneda Airport.

JAL said the initiative will help "address social issues such as congestion in public transportation and the shortage of storage lockers," as well as making life easier for tourists.

The "Baggage-Free" service, which is also available for Japanese residents, covers 14 districts in Tokyo including Shinjuku.

Millions of visitors have been flocking to Japan to take advantage of the weak yen.

The Japanese government expects to surpass its target of 32 million visitors this year following a very busy summer, with a record 3.2 million tourists in July, about 66% more than the same month in 2023.

Just over 250,000 Americans visited in July, up 26% year-on-year.

Amrita Banta, managing director of luxury insights firm Agility Research & Strategy, previously told BI that luxury and designer stores in Tokyo were proving popular.

Banta, who visited Tokyo in the summer, said high-end stores started admitting customers by appointment to cope with demand.

Neighborhoods such as Shibuya and Harajuku in Tokyo are busier than ever, with higher prices at restaurants and hotels triggering frustration and anti-tourist sentiment among some residents.

Some places in Japan are taking steps to mitigate the impact of over-tourism.

In May, a mesh barrier was erected in the town of Fujikawaguchiko to block views of Mount Fuji for tourists gathering in crowds, leaving trash, and ignoring traffic signs.

Foreshadowing its luggage delivery service, JAL started offering tourists free flights in September to lesser-known destinations in Japan.

That move may not help solve the overtourism problem, Ben Julius, the founder of tour operator Tourist Japan, previously told BI.

"The majority of visitors are first-time visitors. And when people visit Japan for the first time, they won't miss the must-see cities," he said.