FEDEX AIR CRASH IN TOKYO: SITREP 2

UNCLAS TOKYO 000646 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS, EAP/J, EEB/TRA STATE PASS FAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR CASC PREL JA SUBJECT: FEDEX AIR CRASH IN TOKYO: SITREP 2 REF: TOKYO 639 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: As a result of the crash of FedEx cargo flight 80, large numbers of passenger flights at Narita Airport are delayed, diverted, or canceled. Runway A, the site of the crash, remains closed, and runway B is heavily congested with additional flights. In addition to the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA accident investigation team, FedEx has sent a separate team to investigate the crash, which will arrive at Yokota Air Base March 24. End summary. Airport Conditions -------------- ¶2. (SBU) According to the Narita Airport schedule as of 1400hrs, out of 414 scheduled departures, 65 flights (15.7 percent) are canceled, and 94 flights (22.7 percent) were on hold. Out of 425 arrivals for today, 238 flights (56 percent) are either delayed/diverted or canceled. Post's airline contacts also indicate the airlines are not receiving timely updates from the Narita Airport Corporation. ¶3. (SBU) The surface of the runway appears to be badly damaged. According to Northwest Airlines Senior Advisor for Air Traffic Management and Industry Affairs Kazuo Nakata, who observed the site, the wreckage is located approximately 100 feet from the runway, and the runway edge lights appear to have been damaged. The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) must complete its investigation before the airport can proceed with runway maintenance, according to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) Flight Standards Division Director for Safety for Air Carriers Ayumu Kitazawa. Flight Status -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Northwest Airlines (NWA) is attempting to use runway B for its inbound flights, but has experienced some diversions, said NWA's Nakata. Outbound flights using the A330 aircraft are scheduled to depart, but flights using B747s (to Detroit, Minneapolis, and Honolulu) are on hold. United Airlines flights are landing on runway B, but outbound long-haul flights to the U.S. have been put on hold, according to United Airlines Narita Airport Flight Dispatch Office Manager Yoko Ohno. Continental Airlines flights from Houston and Newark have arrived at Narita, and the airline plans to use runway B for take-offs, said Continental Airlines Japan and East Asia Director for Airport Operations Jimmy Takeda. Runway B is heavily congested, resulting in 60-90 minute delays to taxi to or from the runway, said Takeda. FedEx Response -------------- ¶5. (SBU) FedEx and Yokota Air Base officials confirmed FedEx has sent a team to investigate the crash, which will arrive at Yokota Air Base March 24. ACS continues to work with FedEx representatives, who will handle disposition of remains on behalf of the family members (who are not traveling to Japan). ZUMWALT