What happened
On January 7, 2023, an Airbus A320-232, registration JA14JJ, operated by Jetstar Japan Co., Ltd., diverted to Chubu Centrair International Airport after receiving a radio notification of a bomb threat. The flight, originally bound for Fukuoka, landed safely on Runway 36 at approximately 07:41 JST.
Following the landing, the pilot in command determined that passengers should disembark immediately using the aircraft's evacuation slides. The crew initiated a "non-urgent evacuation" procedure, which involves a slower descent compared to emergency protocols. During this process, one passenger suffered a serious injury (a lumbar fracture) while exiting through the left aft door, and four other passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The JTSB investigation examined the flight records, crew statements, and video footage of the disembarkation. Investigators analyzed the physical condition of the slides, which were found to be functional and without gas leaks. The inquiry also reviewed the airline's specific "non-urgent evacuation" protocols, noting that these procedures involve instructions to "sit and slide" rather than the emergency "jump" command.
Investigators also looked into the presence of ground assistance. While the First Officer assisted the final passengers at the bottom of the slide, there were no passengers stationed on the ground to assist the preceding evacuees. Furthermore, the investigation found that the safety briefing cards and pre-flight demonstrations did not instruct passengers on how to maintain an upright posture to ensure a safe landing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was that the passenger descended the slide in a supine position (on his back), which caused him to lose control and land heavily on his lower back.
- The passenger's body jumped out of the slide due to the increased speed of the descent while in this improper posture.
- There was a lack of specific safety instructions provided to passengers regarding the necessary body position (keeping the upper body upright) to maintain visibility of the landing point.
- The airline's procedures did not include a mechanism to request or organize passenger assistance at the base of the slides during non-urgent evacuations.