Solar Impulse 2 makes unscheduled stop in Japan

Bad weather forces solar plane attempting to fly around the world to come down in Nagoya

People taking pictures as the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 takes off for Hawaii from Nanjing Lukou International Airport in China. Photograph: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images
People taking pictures as the solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 takes off for Hawaii from Nanjing Lukou International Airport in China. Photograph: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

A solar plane attempting to fly around the world without a drop of fuel is making an unscheduled stop in Japan due to bad weather.

The Swiss pilot of the Solar Impulse 2 took off from Nanjing, China, on Sunday for Hawaii on what was to be the longest leg of the journey.

But the website and Twitter feed of the flight said on Monday that the plane would instead land in Nagoya, Japan.

The journey started in March in Abu Dhabi, and the plane has stopped in Oman, India, Burma and China.

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The 8,175km flight from Nanjing to Hawaii was the seventh of 12 flights and the longest and most dangerous leg.

PA