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Not even a week into 2024, aviation safety became a significant focus for the year. On January 2, a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided with a Japanese Coast Guard DHC Dash-8 while landing at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The accident resulted in the deaths of five out of six crew members aboard the Coast Guard plane. The A350 caught fire after skidding down the runway, but all 367 passengers and 12 crew members evacuated safely with only minor injuries reported. This was the first major accident involving an A350 since its introduction in 2015.
Shortly thereafter, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 experienced an explosive decompression when a "door plug" fell off as it departed from Portland International Airport (PDX). Despite this incident occurring at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the aircraft returned to PDX without any serious injuries to passengers.
These events initiated extensive discussions on commercial aviation safety. The evacuation process during the Japan Airlines incident took longer than expected; however, factors such as crew actions and passenger compliance contributed to a positive outcome. Meanwhile, scrutiny increased on Boeing following revelations that bolts meant to secure the door plug were missing. This led to investigations and changes within Boeing's safety protocols.
