Tokyo, 10 April - On the evening of April 7, 2025, a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 737-800, operating as Flight JAL377, was forced to make an emergency stop during its takeoff attempt at Tokyo's Haneda Airport after veering significantly off course. The aircraft, bound for Kitakyushu Airport in western Japan, had entered Runway D from Taxiway D2 at approximately 7:10 PM local time, carrying 80 passengers and crew members. After receiving clearance from air traffic control to commence its takeoff roll toward the northeast on the 2,500-meter-long runway, the plane began accelerating, reaching speeds estimated between 90 and 130 kilometers per hour. However, it quickly became apparent that something was amiss. The aircraft was not aligned with the runway's white center line lights, which mark the intended path for takeoff and landing. Instead, it had deviated approximately 30 meters to the left, positioning it dangerously close to the runway edge lights, also white, located along the left boundary of the runway. The captain and crew, noticing this alarming leftward drift, made the critical decision to abort the takeoff, bringing the plane to a halt and averting a potentially catastrophic incident.
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Investigations into the event, led by Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry alongside other authorities, have pointed to a possible case of pilot error as the underlying cause. Initial findings suggest that the flight crew may have mistaken the runway edge lights for the center line lights, a confusion that could have been exacerbated by the visual similarity between the two sets of white lights. This theory is under scrutiny as officials analyze the circumstances surrounding the incident. Adding complexity to the situation, Runway D had been undergoing maintenance since March, with some of its center line lights sequentially turned off as part of the repair process. This temporary alteration had been communicated to relevant parties, including pilots operating at Haneda, but it remains unclear whether this contributed to the crew’s misjudgment during the critical moments of the takeoff attempt.
Before the emergency stop was fully executed, the aircraft’s left main landing gear and wing veered off the paved runway surface for roughly 300 meters, striking and damaging several runway lights along the left edge, including a 70-centimeter blue taxiway light near the D3 intersection. Despite the severity of the deviation and the collision with runway infrastructure, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew, a testament to the swift response of the flight team. Following the aborted takeoff, the Boeing 737-800 was maneuvered back toward the runway’s center and subsequently inspected. Runway D was closed for approximately 50 minutes to allow for an assessment of the damage and ensure safety, after which operations resumed. Another aircraft was deployed to take over the scheduled flight to Kitakyushu, minimizing disruption for the affected passengers.
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has stated that it does not currently classify this occurrence as a serious incident, though a thorough investigation continues to determine the precise factors that led to the misalignment. The aircraft involved, registered as JA322J, has since been returned to service after necessary checks. This event follows a more severe incident at Haneda in January 2024, when a JAL Airbus A350 collided with a Japan Coast Guard plane on landing, resulting in a fire that claimed five lives on the smaller aircraft. While the April 7 incident fortunately ended without harm, it underscores the challenges of maintaining safety at one of the world’s busiest airports, particularly under conditions of ongoing maintenance and high operational demand. Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation progresses, with a focus on enhancing procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.