A Japan Airlines aircraft was engulfed in flames at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday after colliding with a Coast Guard aircraft. The airline said that all 379 passengers and crew had been evacuated.

Five of the six crew members aboard the Coast Guard aircraft were confirmed dead. Meanwhile, the captain who managed to escape was severely injured, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regarded the incident as an aviation accident.

Live footage from public broadcaster NHK showed the aircraft erupt in flames as it skidded down the tarmac and fire crews feverishly trying to extinguish the fire.

Nippon News Network reports cited the Tokyo Fire Department saying that the Japan Airlines flight, an Airbus A350 aircraft, which departed from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido Prefecture just after 4 p.m. local time on Tuesday, collided with an aircraft from the Japan Coast Guard. 

(with input from agencies)