The Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Australian charter airline Global Air Leasing to repay the Japanese government $6 million for failing to supply a jumbo jet in time to secretly take Japanese Red Army fugitives from Jordan to Japan in 2000.
In the lawsuit, the Japanese government sought reimbursement of $7.2 million -- a $1.2 million charter fee and a $6 million security deposit -- it paid to the Brisbane-based airline to hire a 20-year-old Boeing 747.
Justice John Muir ruled that the Japanese government was entitled to be repaid the $6 million security deposit.
However, he rejected Japan's demand that the airline reimburse the $1.2 million charter fee, saying GAL had fulfilled its obligation under the contract by flying the aircraft to the United States in preparation for the flight to Narita airport.