Japanese jet crash kills 21

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 1

Japanese jet crash kills 21

N'ZPA Tokyo At least 21 people were killed yesterday when a Japan Airlines DCB crashed into Tokyo Bay and broke in two. The death toll among the 174 aboard is likely to rise because seven people are still missing and 76 are seriously injured. Another 70 were slightly injured. Most of the passengers were Japanese. The crash occurred when the aircraft, from the southern industrial city of Fukuoka, was making its final approach to Tokyo's Haneda domestic airport. A Japan Airlines spokesman said the aircraft hit a landing beacon in Tokyo Bay 300 metres from touchdown and landed in the sea.

The aircraft broke open, with the main body of the aircraft coming to rest on top of the cockpit section. The crash happened in good flying conditions with only a light wind. Survivors said that the jet appeared to lose power as it was about to level out for the landing. "It was awful." said Toshinori Uemura. aged 32. "The plane must have come down too last. I-was sitting in the forward section. I was thrown out of the seat after the shock of the landing. A stewardess with a portable loudspeaker kept calling on us to remain calm and that the plane would not sink. I went out an exit window."

The pilot was among those killed

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