What happened
On February 16, 2008, at approximately 10:33 JST, a serious incident occurred at New Chitose Airport involving two Japan Airlines International aircraft. A Boeing 747-400D, registration JA8904, was positioned on runway 01R, preparing for a scheduled flight to Tokyo International Airport. At the same time, a Douglas MD-90-30, registration JA8020, had recently landed on the same runway and was still taxiing toward the end of the runway.
Without receiving formal takeoff clearance, the crew of JA8904 initiated the takeoff roll. As the aircraft's speed increased, the air traffic controller issued urgent instructions to stop immediately due to the presence of the landing traffic. The crew of JA8904 responded by applying maximum braking and engine reverse thrust, successfully aborting the run. The aircraft reached a maximum ground speed of approximately 84 knots before coming to a halt. No injuries were reported among the 446 occupants on the Boeing 747 or the 126 occupants on the MD-90.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined flight data recorder (DFDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVCR) data, air traffic control radar records, and interviews with the flight crews and the tower controller. The investigation focused on the communication between the tower and the aircraft, the sequence of engine thrust increases, and the crew's perception of the takeoff clearance during heavy snowfall conditions.
Findings
- The captain of JA8904 believed that the instruction "EXPECT IMMEDIATE TAKE-OFF" constituted sufficient authorization to begin the takeoff roll, particularly because the crew was under pressure to depart due to approaching traffic and deteriorating weather.
- The crew failed to verify that the preceding aircraft, JA8020, had fully cleared the active runway.
- The pilot failed to ensure a proper readback of the ATC clearance was completed by the trainee pilot, which led to a misunderstanding of the current runway status.
- Heavy snowfall and congested radio frequencies contributed to a breakdown in situational awareness and communication clarity.
- The captain admitted to prioritizing the takeoff procedure over standard verification steps due to the perceived urgency of the situation.