ANA 767 and Japan Aviation Bureau CJ4 narrowly avoid collision at Tokyo Haneda

On the morning of August 2, 2026, Tokyo Haneda Airport experienced a close call as an All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 767-300 nearly collided with a Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) Cessna Citation CJ4 flight inspection aircraft. The ANA flight NH968, arriving from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, came within approximately 70 feet (20 meters) of the JCAB-operated jet while both were on converging flight paths during final approach and departure operations. Both aircraft landed safely, but the incident has sparked immediate concern due to Haneda's history of recent runway safety issues.

Flight NH968 departed Shanghai shortly before 2:30 AM local time and was conducting its final approach to Haneda’s Runway 34R by around 5:40 AM. Simultaneously, the JCAB flight inspection CJ4 had just taken off from Haneda’s Runway 06, performing a scheduled calibration mission critical to maintaining airport navigational safety. After departure, the CJ4 made a sharp right turn and climbed on a southwesterly heading, intersecting the ANA 767’s descent path over Tokyo Bay at roughly 1,000 feet altitude.

Audio communications recorded during the event reveal an agitated approach controller alerting both flight crews as the aircraft closed in dangerously. ANA’s pilots reported receiving a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Resolution Advisory, an automated safety alert directing immediate evasive maneuvering to prevent a collision. Such alerts during normal approach and departure phases are very rare and reflect an extreme risk of midair collision.

Responding to the TCAS command, the ANA 767 executed a steep climb and right bank away from the airport, temporarily aborting its landing sequence. Meanwhile, the JCAB CJ4 suspended its climb, descending slightly to remain clear below the departing airliner’s flight path. After increasing separation, the 767 returned for a safe landing about 15 minutes later, and the CJ4 continued its flight inspection mission over Tokyo Bay.

Flight inspection aircraft like the JCAB’s CJ4 perform vital roles ensuring the accuracy and reliability of instrument landing systems (ILS), navigation beacons, approach lighting, and satellite-based procedures that underpin safe airport operations worldwide. Flying specialized approaches and departure routes during these calibrations requires close coordination with air traffic control, particularly at a busy hub like Haneda.

This near-miss incident arrives under heightened scrutiny following a tragic runway collision at Haneda in January 2024. That accident involved a Japan Airlines Airbus A350-900 and a Japan Coast Guard De Havilland Dash 8, resulting in five fatalities and the destruction of the widebody jet. The authorities have since implemented enhanced monitoring and procedural changes to bolster runway safety at the airport.

Investigators will analyze radar tracking, controller instructions, and crew communication records to determine why normal separation standards failed and this close proximity arose. The fact that a TCAS alert was triggered denotes a critical breach of safe operating margins. Given the airport’s status as one of the world’s busiest, the findings will inform operational safeguards aimed at preventing a repeat incident.

This affair shares parallels with a 2025 incident in Washington D.C., where American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a military helicopter on final approach, leading to a crash. The Tokyo event’s narrow margin emphasizes the importance of rigid airspace management and rapid response systems like TCAS in complex terminal environments.

In sum, the incident underscores the delicate balance between routine safety inspections and regular flight operations at congested airports. As the investigation unfolds, aviation stakeholders will be closely watching for measures to enhance coordination and prevent near-tragedies during critical phases of flight at Haneda and other major hubs.