Flight and Diversion
On January 7, 2023, Jetstar Japan Co., Ltd. flight 501, an Airbus A320-232 registered JA14JJ, departed Narita International Airport at approximately 06:36 Japan Standard Time for Fukuoka Airport. The aircraft carried 142 persons: the pilot in command, five other crew members, and 136 passengers. After departure, the airline received a bomb threat against the aircraft and informed the flight crew. The crew diverted to Chubu Centrair International Airport, landing on Runway 36 at 07:41 and stopping on Taxiway A.
Evacuation Decision
After stopping, the pilot in command judged that passengers should disembark immediately and decided to use the evacuation slides. He instructed the cabin crew to perform a "Non-urgent Evacuation" as defined in company regulations, which aims to minimize injuries by having passengers slide down slowly. The pilot announced to passengers that a bomb threat had been received and that slide evacuation would be conducted.
Disembarkation Process
Four cabin crew members opened their respective doors and deployed the slides. All slides deployed normally; no wind gusts affected them, and no gas leakage was observed. Passengers began disembarking at around 07:50 and all completed by 07:55. Most passengers sat at the exit before descending. Cabin crew members at each exit called out instructions: "unfasten your seat belts, leave your luggage, high heels off, come this way for the exit, form one line, sit and slide, and put your hands on laps." The pilot instructed crew to guide passengers to the left side of the aircraft; the right aft exit was not used to avoid danger of passing under the aircraft, and the right front exit was used only when left-side exits were jammed. A visitor on the airport's Sky deck filmed the evacuation.
Injuries and Damage
One passenger, a 67-year-old male, suffered a serious injury: a lumbar fracture. Four passengers sustained minor injuries: a 40-year-old male with scratches on hand, a 40-year-old female with cuts on feet, a 26-year-old female, and a 24-year-old female (injuries unspecified). No other damage to the aircraft occurred. The seriously injured passenger stated that he did not recognize the presence of the cabin crew member at the left aft exit or hear instructions such as "sit and slide" and "put your hands on laps." He reported landing on the ground from his low back as his descent speed increased. No explosives were found on board.
Additional Information
Company regulations define two types of slide evacuations: "Emergency Evacuation" requiring maximum speed, and "Non-urgent Evacuation" to minimize injuries. During non-urgent evacuation, over-wing exits are not used, and passengers are instructed to "sit and slide." The safety briefing card and pre-flight demonstration did not explain the non-urgent evacuation concept or the need to keep the upper body upright when descending. However, the "General Guidelines for Safety Information Provided to Passengers" state that safety briefing cards should include information that passengers need to raise their upper body when descending the slides to see their landing point. Scratch marks were found on the slides post-accident, but no damage that would impede use.