Editorial: Commitment to aviation safety must be renewed 40 years after JAL jet crash
On the anniversary of the disaster, relatives of the victims climbed Osutaka Ridge, the crash site, to offer prayers and pay their respects. It should serve as an opportunity to renew commitment to aviation safety.
The role played by the bereaved family group called "8.12 association" to prevent a recurrence has been significant. To ensure the lessons are not forgotten, the group urged Japan Airlines Co. to preserve the aircraft. Twenty-one years after the accident, the Safety Promotion Center was established near Haneda Airport in Tokyo, displaying the victims' belongings.
The group also raised questions about the accident investigation report with the Japan Transport Safety Board, leading to the creation of an explanatory booklet for clearer understanding. This allowed the issues to be shared with society.
In response to the group highlighting the insufficient care for the bereaved, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism launched a support office for the families of the victims in public transportation accidents.
"Safety is built upon the determination of the victims and their families," says Kuniko Miyajima, 78, the group's secretary-general.
However, accidents persist. In January 2024, a Japan Airlines plane collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Haneda Airport, resulting in both catching fire.
There has been a slew of cases suggesting a lack of safety awareness. Multiple violations of alcohol consumption regulations by airline pilots have been exposed.
With the anticipated increase in air travel demand due to the rise in foreign visitors, continuous efforts are essential to avert accidents from happening in the early stages. It is also necessary to strengthen computer systems to avoid major accidents, even if human error occurs from maintenance to operation.
The crash was caused by the failure of the rear pressure bulkhead, which maintains cabin pressure, blowing off the vertical stabilizer and making the aircraft uncontrollable. Although Boeing Co. cited "inadequate repairs" of the pressure bulkhead as the cause of the accident, the background and details remain unclear due to a lack of cooperation from the American company.
This year, the group published a collection of essays titled "Akanegumo sono ato ni" (After the Red Cloud) for the first time in 10 years. A man who lost his then 49-year-old father and is now a parent himself reflected on his dad's sorrow once again. "It is crucial to pass on the lessons to prevent a repeat of the tragedy," he wrote.
Society must collectively embrace the weight of the 40 years each bereaved family member has spent confronting the accident, and uphold their wishes for safety.
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Japan Today
13 hours ago
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'Nobody else knew': Allied prisoners of war held in Taiwan
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The Mainichi
13 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Commitment to aviation safety must be renewed 40 years after JAL jet crash
This Aug. 12 marked 40 years since a Japan Airlines jumbo jet crashed in Gunma Prefecture in the eastern part of the country. The accident claimed the lives of 520 passengers and crew members, making it the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident. On the anniversary of the disaster, relatives of the victims climbed Osutaka Ridge, the crash site, to offer prayers and pay their respects. It should serve as an opportunity to renew commitment to aviation safety. The role played by the bereaved family group called "8.12 association" to prevent a recurrence has been significant. To ensure the lessons are not forgotten, the group urged Japan Airlines Co. to preserve the aircraft. Twenty-one years after the accident, the Safety Promotion Center was established near Haneda Airport in Tokyo, displaying the victims' belongings. The group also raised questions about the accident investigation report with the Japan Transport Safety Board, leading to the creation of an explanatory booklet for clearer understanding. This allowed the issues to be shared with society. In response to the group highlighting the insufficient care for the bereaved, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism launched a support office for the families of the victims in public transportation accidents. "Safety is built upon the determination of the victims and their families," says Kuniko Miyajima, 78, the group's secretary-general. However, accidents persist. In January 2024, a Japan Airlines plane collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Haneda Airport, resulting in both catching fire. There has been a slew of cases suggesting a lack of safety awareness. Multiple violations of alcohol consumption regulations by airline pilots have been exposed. With the anticipated increase in air travel demand due to the rise in foreign visitors, continuous efforts are essential to avert accidents from happening in the early stages. It is also necessary to strengthen computer systems to avoid major accidents, even if human error occurs from maintenance to operation. The crash was caused by the failure of the rear pressure bulkhead, which maintains cabin pressure, blowing off the vertical stabilizer and making the aircraft uncontrollable. Although Boeing Co. cited "inadequate repairs" of the pressure bulkhead as the cause of the accident, the background and details remain unclear due to a lack of cooperation from the American company. This year, the group published a collection of essays titled "Akanegumo sono ato ni" (After the Red Cloud) for the first time in 10 years. A man who lost his then 49-year-old father and is now a parent himself reflected on his dad's sorrow once again. "It is crucial to pass on the lessons to prevent a repeat of the tragedy," he wrote. Society must collectively embrace the weight of the 40 years each bereaved family member has spent confronting the accident, and uphold their wishes for safety.
Yomiuri Shimbun
a day ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
JAL Crash Victims Mourned on 40th Anniversary of Accident in Japan; Advancing Age Prevents Some Relatives From Traveling to Site
UENO, Gunma — Carrying memories of their loved ones in their hearts, bereaved relatives and others climbed on Tuesday to the site where a Japan Airlines jumbo jet crashed in 1985, killing 520 passengers and crew. In front of the 'Shokon no Hi' monument to the victims on Osutaka Ridge in the village of Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, mourners released balloons and blew soap bubbles in memory of the victims and sounded the 'Bell of Safety.' Advancing age has prevented some bereaved family members from visiting the ridge for memorial services, and some have said this year's 40th anniversary will be their final climb. 'I might not come again,' said Yutaka Ochi, 66, from Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. He spoke softly at the grave marker for the victims, who include his sister Yoshiko, while pouring her favorite Hennessy brandy over the site. Yoshiko was 28 at the time of her to a knee injury, Ochi intends to make this year's climb his last. The eldest of three siblings, Yoshiko dreamed of living overseas and studied English by listening to late-night radio programs. When she was a high school student, she received support from the Rotary Club to go to the United States. She persuaded her parents, who opposed the idea, and spent a year at a high school in Massachusetts. After graduating from the University of Arizona, she worked for a fashion-related company in New York. Ochi was proud of his older sister, who had paved her own way in life. In the spring of 1985, Yoshiko returned to Japan when she got a new job at an apparel company. In July 1985, she attended Ochi's wedding and toured every table to greet guests. 'She's a show-off but cool. That's just like my sister,' he said proudly. Yoshiko was on her way to the company's headquarters in Kobe, after finishing her work in Tokyo, when she was killed in the accident, one month after the wedding. About two weeks later, part of a jaw was confirmed to be Yoshiko's. Ochi carried his sister — 'small enough to fit in the palm of my hand' — back home. 'She must have had dreams she wanted to pursue,' he said with deep regret. Ochi climbed to the accident site for his father, who died in 2009 and had urged him, 'Go to Yoshiko's place.' However, his knees no longer behave the way he wants. 'Each of the 520 people had their own dreams. An accident like this must never happen again,' Ochi said.
