The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry announced Tuesday it will tighten its inspections of Skymark Airlines after the carrier reported it had been operating a plane for about nine months past a repair deadline.
Transport minister Kazuo Kitagawa told a news conference that Skymark's negligence in not repairing the Boeing 767-300, reported to the ministry Friday, was extremely regrettable and the ministry will send inspectors to check its maintenance facilities.
"An airline must not sacrifice safety to pursue efficiency or reduce costs," Kitagawa said, adding that safety was the most important mission for any operator of mass transportation.