Airplanes crash at Tokyo airport

At Haneda Airport in Tokyo, a big passenger jet and a smaller coast guard plane collided on Tuesday. They collided on the runway as the passenger jet was landing. 

Japanese officials said the Japan Airlines (JAL) passenger jet had permission to land, but the smaller plane did not have permission to take off. Sadly, five people on the coast guard plane died. The only survivor was the pilot.

However, all 379 people on the passenger jet got out safely.

Communication records between air traffic control and the airplanes show that the passenger jet was allowed to land. The coast guard plane was told to wait.

After the crash, the pilot of the coast guard plane said he had permission to take off, but the records don’t show that.

The transport minister of Japan, Tetsuo Saito, said they want to investigate the accident to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Airbus, the maker of the passenger plane, will also send people to help investigate the accident.

Haneda Airport opened most of its runways again the next day.

Videos and pictures showed a big fire and a lot of smoke from the big jet after it landed. When the plane stopped moving, passengers quickly left using emergency slides. 

Firefighters tried to stop the fire quickly, but it took eight hours.

The coast guard plane was going to Ishikawa, Japan to help people hurt in the big earthquake that happened on January 1. The passenger jet was coming from Hokkaido, Japan.

Vocabulary

• Passenger – a person who is traveling in a vehicle, or on a train or plane, but is not driving it or working on it
• Passenger jet (plane) – a large jet airplane for people to travel on; ✈️
• Coastguard – People who help people and boats at sea; military people who watch over the water to keep it safe and help others
• Collide – hit; strike; run into; crash
• Runway – a road for airplanes to takeoff and land
• Land – to come down from the air/sky and touch the ground; 
• Official – a person who works for the government or a government company and has power or authority; officer; executive
• Permission – allowed to do; authorization; approval; it’s OK to do
• Take off – When a plane starts flying and goes up into the sky from the ground
• Survivor – someone still living after dangerous event; 
• Pilot – The person who controls and flies an airplane
• Communication – Sharing messages or information with others; talking with others
• Record – information or a description of an event that is written on paper or stored on a computer; documentation; evidence
• Air traffic control – People who watch planes and help guide them safely in the sky and at airports; 
• Allowed – permission to do something; it’s OK; permitted; you may; you can
• Transport – to move goods or people from one place to another
• Minister – a government person in charge of a department; government secretary; politician
• Investigate – to research; to study; to find out more
• Accident – something that happens unexpectedly or without warning, usually a bad thing; an event not intended by anyone; mishap
• Emergency – a dangerous/serious and sudden/unexpected situation
• Slide – A smooth surface that people can quickly move down, like in a playground or from a plane
• Firefighter – a person who stops or puts out/stops fires; 👨‍🚒🚒
• Earthquake – a natural event where the ground shakes and moves suddenly and strongly, caused by the movement of rocks deep beneath the earth’s surface

Quiz

Time’s up

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think the coast guard plane pilot said he had permission to take off when the records don’t show it?
• Do you think this accident will change how air traffic control works at Haneda Airport or other airports?
• Why do you think it’s important for companies like Airbus to help investigate when an accident like this happens?
• How can passengers be better prepared for emergency situations while flying?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

www.theguardian.com

Japan jet crash: passenger plane was cleared to land, say officials

Smaller plane on runway was not cleared for takeoff, however, say authorities as investigations begin

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

At Haneda Airport in _____, a big passenger jet and a smaller coast guard plane collided on _____. They collided on the runway as the _____ jet was landing. 

Japanese officials said _____ Japanese Airlines (JAL) passenger jet had permission to land, but the _____ plane did not have permission to take off. _____, five people on the coast guard plane died. The only survivor was the _____.

However, all 379 people on the passenger jet got out _____.

Communication records _____ air traffic control and the airplanes show that the passenger jet was allowed to land. The _____ guard plane was told to wait.

After the crash, the pilot of the coast guard plane said he had _____ to take off, but the records don’t show that.

The _____ minister of Japan, Tetsuo Saito, said they want to investigate the accident to make _____ it doesn’t happen again. Airbus, the _____ of the passenger plane, will also send people to help investigate the accident.

Haneda _____ opened most of its runways again the next day.

Videos and pictures _____ a big fire and a lot of smoke from the big jet after it landed. When the plane stopped _____, passengers quickly left using emergency slides. 

Firefighters tried to stop the fire _____, but it took eight hours.

The coast guard plane was _____ to Ishikawa, Japan to help people hurt in the big earthquake that _____ on January 1. The passenger jet was coming from Hokkaido, _____.