JAL Flight 123: Japan Receives New Details on Deadliest Single-Aircraft Crash in History

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Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed at 6:56 PM on August 12, 1985, killing 520 passengers and crew, with only four survivors. The flight, en route from Haneda to Osaka, remains the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history.

Among the victims was singer Kyu Sakamoto, internationally known for his hit "Ue o Muite Arukou" ("Sukiyaki"), the only Japanese-language song ever to top American charts.

*The rear pressure bulkhead of the crashed Japan Airlines plane, reconstructed from its scattered fragments — August 1985.*

New Details Emerge

In an interview with The Sankei Shimbun, Boeing confirmed details about the faulty repair that caused the Boeing 747 to fail shortly after takeoff. While these details had appeared in American sources such as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents, they had never been included in Japanese investigation reports.

Boeing also issued a renewed apology during the interview. "We extend our heartfelt condolences and sincere apologies to the families of the victims," the company said.

Koichi Saito, an investigator who examined the bulkhead in 1985, said, "This is the first time in 40 years that this information has come to light [in Japan]. It is extremely surprising and critically important for maintenance personnel to know."

The Faulty Repair

Seven years before the crash, the aircraft had sustained tail damage in another incident. The rear pressure bulkhead — a dome-shaped component that maintains cabin pressure — was repaired by replacing its lower half and joining it to the upper half.

The repair manual specified a single continuous splice plate to reinforce the joint. However, Boeing's repair team cut the plate into two pieces and riveted them in place. This weakened the bulkhead to about 70% of its intended strength, causing the crash, according to the accident investigation report.

Boeing explained to Sankei that "it was difficult to install the plate in the specified position, so it was divided into two pieces to make installation easier."

*Japan Airlines plane with rear fuselage damage from an accident seven years before the crash — Osaka Airport, June 1978.*

Why the Truth Took So Long

For decades, the question remained why the plate had been cut. At the time, Japanese investigators could not interview Boeing personnel because US law does not impose criminal liability for negligence-based aviation accidents, unlike Japan's system.

This prevented direct questioning, and Japan's Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission's (AAIC) 1987 report left the reason unclear. Then-chairman Shun Takeda later rated the report only "70 points."

In September 2024, Boeing launched an aviation safety section on its website, noting explicitly that the plate was divided because it was structurally difficult to install as one piece. Originally created for internal training, the section was made public to further strengthen aviation safety. The FAA published similar wording on its website.

Since none of this had appeared in Japanese reports, bereaved families had been left without closure.

*Family members affected by the crash and others offer prayers before the Cenotaph of Flight 123 on Osutaka Ridge — morning of August 12, Uenomura, Gunma Prefecture. (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa)*

Government Response in Japan

Sankei's reporting prompted new action in Japan. On August 8, 2025, Transport Minister Hiroaki Nakano announced that the transport ministry (MLIT) is confirming the facts with Boeing and the FAA. This marks the first time Japan's transport ministry has sought details directly from US authorities, separate from the AAIC's original findings.

Nakano explained that although investigations into accident causes normally fall under the Japan Transport Safety Board, MLIT can gather reference information once cases are closed, particularly to improve aviation safety.

Around the accident's 40th anniversary, he said, "We must never allow each lesson to fade away. To build even greater safety, we will continue to work together with everyone involved in aviation to ensure security."

The bereaved families' committee welcomed the developments, saying, "As the facts about the faulty repair become clear, the reasons behind them can also be clarified. We hope more detailed information will be made publicly available."

Remembering the Victims

On the night of August 11, families affected by the crash held the 31st annual lantern-floating ceremony on the Kanna River at the foot of Osutaka Ridge in Gunma Prefecture, the site of the crash. Despite steady rain, accordion music filled the air as lanterns floated along the river, each carrying messages for lost loved ones.

*Lanterns floating on the Kanna River at the foot of the Osutaka Ridge, Ueno Village, Gunma Prefecture, on the evening of August 11. (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa)*

Around 6:30 PM, a committee led a moment of silent prayer. About 200 lanterns drifted quietly along the water, their soft glow accompanying the participants' prayers. Attendees also sang Kyu Sakamoto's "Ue o Muite Arukou".

Fumiharu Nishimura, 76, from Osaka lost his brother-in-law Takayuki Ozawa, who was 29 at the time. He recalled the four-hour trek up the mountain path five days after the crash and said, "It hasn't changed even now."

Though declining health had kept him away in recent years, he was determined to attend this milestone. He whispered, "Maybe this will be the last time."

*The lantern on the left is marked with the words "May such an accident never happen again." (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa)*

Takayuki's son, Hideaki, now 39, was born the year after the accident and is a father to a three-year-old daughter. "Thinking about how my mother raised me alone, it must have been so difficult," he said. With the survivor generation aging, there is concern that the memory of the accident could fade. Hideaki reaffirmed his commitment: "It's my mission to pass this on to my children."

Praying for Aviation Safety

The next day, the families climbed Osutaka Ridge and held a ceremony at the Irei no Sono memorial park. They paid tribute to those who died at the Cenotaph of Flight 123 and prayed for aviation safety. Voices were heard pledging to "keep the memory alive."

The group carefully navigated the muddy mountain path, stopping at scattered grave markers along the ridge. Some elderly participants held handrails and paused to catch their breath.

*Bereaved families release balloons in front of the Cenotaph of Flight 123 — August 12, Osutaka Ridge.*

They observed a moment of silence, rang a bell for aviation safety, and children blew bubbles. Families of victims from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2014 Mount Ontake eruption also participated.

*Participants in the memorial climb blow bubbles in front of the Cenotaph of Flight 123. (©Sankei by Naoki Aikawa)*

Toshiaki Takenaga, 76, from Osaka, lost his older brother Shuji, who was 24 at the time. Standing before a newly restored grave marker, he clasped his hands and said, "Even after 40 years, the grief does not disappear. I pray that such an accident will never happen again."

Authors: Atsushi Oda and Shuta Miyazaki, The Sankei Shimbun, with contributions from Kyodo

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