Airbus is sending specialists to assist investigators probing the 2 January collision between a Japan Airlines A350-900 and a Japanese Coast Guard De Havilland Canada Dash 8 at Tokyo Haneda International airport as the airliner was landing. The investigation will be led by the Japan Transport Safety Bureau and involve France's accident investigator, BEA, as per international conventions. The A350, registered JA13XJ (MSN 538), was operating flight 516 from Sapporo’s New Chitose airport at 16:15 (local time) and landed at Tokyo Haneda at 17:47 on 2 January, carrying 367 passengers, including eight infants, and 12 crew members, JAL states. The aircraft burst into flames after colliding with the Dash 8 immediately after landing, however all crew and passengers were evacuated from the A350 with no fatalities. Five crewmembers of the Dash 8 were killed in the accident, and the captain sustained severe injuries. JAL says in a statement that the A350 is a "total loss", with daytime pictures on social media appearing to show that much of the fuselage was consumed by the subsequent fire. A large part of the investigation is likely to focus on the actions of air traffic controllers and the crew of the two aircraft involved. JAL says that based on interviews with the crew operating the A350 "they acknowledged and repeated the landing permission from air traffic control, and then proceeded with the approach and landing procedures". It also notes that the “aircraft did not experience any issues or irregularities during its departure from New Chitose Airport or throughout the flight.” The carrier adds that “detailed information and the cause of the accident are under investigation, and full cooperation with the investigation will be provided.” All Haneda’s four runways were temporarily closed following the accident, and all runways but the affected one were reopened at "around 21:30" the same day, Kyodo News agency reported citing the transport ministry. Schedules data shows that more than 40 airlines have scheduled 218 departures and 216 arrivals at Haneda on 3 January. ANA and its subsidiary ANA Wings together about 37% of the total number of departures and arrivals while JAL accounts for about 26%. About one-third the total number of arrivals and departures on 3 January have been cancelled outright, according to flight status data on Haneda’s website as of 12:49. On the international front, eight departures and six arrivals have been cancelled, while on the domestic front, 71 departures and 45 arrivals were axed. JAL said that it had cancelled a total of 50 domestic and three international flights for the day but has “not decided” further schedules changes from tomorrow.

Russian carrier Red Wings Airlines has expanded its fleet with the addition of a restored Tupolev Tu-214 aircraft. The carrier says it took delivery of the aircraft, with registration number RA-64518, from leasing company Ilyushin Finance on 28 December at Kazan airport. Ilyushin Finance organised work to restore the airworthiness of the aircraft after long-term storage and received a new airworthiness certificate in mid-December, the airline adds. Manufactured in 2009 at the Kazan Aviation Plant, the aircraft was operated by Transaero until 2017 and then by Red Wings. Red Wings adds that it plans to continue its collaboration with United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in restoring and operating the domestic fleet of passenger and transport aircraft. The carrier announced on 10 December the launch of a cargo transportation business line, which will include Ilyushin Il-96-400T aircraft restored at UAC aircraft factories. Meanwhile, UAC is expanding its line of Russian civil aircraft, preparing for mass production of Sukhoi Superjet 100s, conducting flight tests for the Il-96-400M and certifying the medium-haul MS-21-310 in the import-substituted version.

AirAsia Malaysia chief executive Riad Asmat has stepped down from his position after nearly six years in the role, as the group signals that a “restructuring” of the company and personnel groupwide will be made “in due course”. Asmat left the position effective 31 December 2023 but will continue to remain in various capacities with the company, according to a 30 December statement. He was appointed chief executive in January 2018, and oversaw the company’s Malaysia-based operations. “While Riad has decided to step down from the CEO position, he will remain an integral part of AirAsia by joining the Board of Advisors. All our operations will continue as usual, unaffected by this transition,” states Bo Lingam, group chief executive, AirAsia Aviation Group. “We look forward to continuing our journey with his guidance and have full confidence in the capable hands of the team while ensuring a smooth transition when the new CEO is appointed,” he adds. “AirAsia will be announcing additional updates on the restructuring of the company and personnel within the group in due course,” the group states. Asmat has been appointed to the advisory board of AirAsia Aviation Group, the holding entity for AirAsia Malaysia and its regional affiliate carriers, and will remain on the airline’s board and Ground Team Red, the group’s ground handling arm. He will also provide "consultancy work” with Capital A Aviation Services, the group’s consulting arm. Asmat described the move as “not an easy decision”, adding: “While stepping down as CEO, I am looking forward to continue supporting the company in its next chapter”.