A tragic incident occurred at Tokyo's Haneda airport, as a passenger jet collided with a coast guard plane, resulting in a devastating fire and claiming the lives of five individuals. Disturbingly, data reveals that the warning lights designed to alert pilots about runway conditions were not operational at the time of the collision.

According to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) message issued on December 27, the "stop bar" lights, which play a crucial role in preventing aircraft from entering the runway at the wrong time, had malfunctioned. This particular alert was specifically issued for the runway where the Japan Airlines (JAL) jet collided with the coast guard plane, leading to the horrific outcome.

Nevertheless, there were other indicators in place to guide pilots about the runway entrance and where to halt, including red and white "16R-34L" runway signage and painted markings. Additionally, a solid yellow line on the ground indicates that pilots require clearance to proceed.

Remarkably, all 379 individuals aboard the jet managed to evacuate before it was consumed by a fireball. The crew of the aircraft has garnered widespread praise for their handling of the emergency.

In recent developments, authorities have released a transcript indicating that the JAL flight had received clearance to land. However, the coast guard plane had not been granted permission to take off and had entered the runway unauthorized.

In response to the incident, an investigation has been initiated, with a focus on reviewing the conversations between the pilot of the coast guard plane and air traffic control in the moments leading up to the collision. CNN reports that these conversations will be crucial in understanding the sequence of events that culminated in the tragic accident.

The malfunctioning of the runway warning lights has raised concerns about the safety protocols and systems in place at Haneda airport. As the investigation unfolds, it is hoped that valuable insights will emerge to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future and maintain the highest level of safety for air travel.