Solar Impulse 2 damaged after landing in Japan - Action News
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Science

Solar Impulse 2 damaged after landing in Japan

A solar-powered plane forced to land in Japan when it hit bad weather during its trip around the globe has encountered more challenges after wind gusts damaged a wing on the grounded aircraft.

Damage to wing will take at least a week to repair

A crew member stands underneath the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 as it is parked in an inflatable hangar after an unscheduled landing at Nagoya airport in Japan. Wind gusts have damaged the plane's wing. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

A solar-powered plane forced to land in Japan when it hit bad weather during its trip around the globe has encountered more challenges after wind gusts damaged a wing on the grounded aircraft.

Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg says on the expedition's website that the damage to the Solar Impulse 2 on Tuesday will "necessitate at least a week to repair." It has delayed the journey further, but he says the damage is not a major issue.

The Solar Impulse departed Nanjing, China, on Sunday on what was expected to be the longest leg of the journey, a six-day, 8,175-kilometer (5,079-mile) flight to Hawaii.

Instead, the plane landed late Monday at the Nagoya Airport in central Japan to wait out unexpectedly bad weather.

Borschberg is flying without any fuel.

Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg and Aichi Prefecture Governor Hideaki Omura step out of an inflatable hangar that houses the Solar Impulse 2. Repairs will take at least a week. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)