AFTER a Japan Airlines (JAL) jet crashed into another plane at Tokyo's Haneda airport, experts analysed how all 379 passengers and crew managed to escape the burning aircraft mostly unharmed.
The Airbus A350-900 (JAL flight 516) collided with a Coast Guard plane upon landing, resulting in the death of five individuals on the smaller Dash 8 aircraft.
Materials and Fire Performance:
The A350 featured carbon fibre composites, which burn more easily.
However, according to The Guardian, experts downplayed the role of materials, stressing the novel burning phenomenon in aviation.
Approximately 50 per cent of the A350 is made from carbon fibre reinforced polymers, a notably high proportion.
While these materials impact fire performance, the specifics of the incident's resins remain unknown.
Carbon fibre composites may lose stiffness at lower temperatures than aluminum, but their overall impact on the incident's outcome is minimal.
Fire Containment:
The fire, primarily on the left wing, did not lead to an explosion upon impact.
Aerospace design expert Dr Sonya Brown said firewalls made of materials combustible at higher temperatures likely contained the fire, preventing its spread to critical areas such as engines and fuel tanks.
This containment allowed all on board to evacuate, even though the process may have taken longer due to the inability to use doors above the wings.
Jet Fuel Levels:
Meanwhile, Strategic Aviation Solutions industry consultant Neil Hansford told The Guardian that the relatively low amount of jet fuel during landing minimised the fire's intensity and prevented a potential explosion.
Commercial aircraft typically operate with the fuel needed for a trip plus a 10 per cent buffer to maximise fuel efficiency.
In this case, carrying extra fuel for an alternate airport (likely Tokyo’s Narita) adhered to industry rules.
Aircraft Interior Design:
While a plane's exterior, regardless of construction materials, would burn over time, Hansford said aircraft interiors are designed to prevent flames from spreading.
Seats are made of fireblock material, contributing to the overall safety and allowing for evacuation.
A combination of factors, including material composition, fire containment measures, jet fuel levels, and interior design, played crucial roles in ensuring the safe evacuation of passengers and crew from the burning aircraft.