Nippon Cargo Disciplined for “Vicious” Irregularities

July 22, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese transport ministry took disciplinary action against Nippon Cargo Airlines under the civil aeronautics law on Friday, for its inadequate aircraft maintenance and failure to report accidents, as well as the manipulation of maintenance records.

The ministry found that the subsidiary of major shipping firm Nippon Yusen K.K. or NYK Line, tried to cover up its violations and recognized "organizational viciousness" in the irregularities.

Condemning the inadequate maintenance as a serious violation that could have led to an aircraft accident or other severe incidents, the ministry, in an unprecedented move, stripped the company of its exemption from annual safety inspections.

As a result, the cargo carrier cannot operate its 11 aircraft unless the planes undergo the inspections every year.

Business improvement orders slapped on Nippon Cargo also include one to conduct compliance education for all employees.

According to the ministry and the company, a total of eight maintenance staff members were involved in three cases of data falsification. In one of them, a maintenance manager and a mechanic manipulated an airplane's lubricating oil level to avoid a mandatory checkup at Narita International Airport, east of Tokyo, in April this year.

Between August 2013 and May this year, there also were inadequate maintenance cases including the testing of aircraft control functions by an unqualified worker.

The company has also failed to voluntarily report on an incident involving a dented airplane body.

"We deeply apologize to our customers and others concerned for causing great inconvenience and anxiety," Nippon Cargo Airlines President Hitoshi Oshika told a news conference on Friday. Jiji Press