UENO, Aug. 11, 2010 (Kyodo News International) --
(Editors: TO BE LED)
Relatives of the 1985 Japan Airlines (OOTC:JALFQ) jumbo jet crash victims gathered in Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, to float paper lanterns on a river in a prayer ceremony for their loved ones Wednesday evening, the eve of the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.
The JAL plane heading to Osaka from Tokyo crashed in the Osutaka Ridge, killing all but four of the 524 passengers and crew members aboard, making it the world's worst single-aircraft accident.
On Thursday, some of the relatives will climb to the crash site from Ueno, the village at the foot of the Osutaka Ridge, as their way of praying for the souls of the deceased and appealing for aviation safety. Transport minister Seiji Maehara will also visit there as the first state minister to do so.
This year's anniversary comes after JAL filed for bankruptcy protection in January to undergo state-backed rehabilitation.
While no one was indicted in the accident, a Japanese government investigation commission blamed it on improper repairs conducted by Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) on the plane's rear pressure bulkhead, which JAL could not detect in subsequent maintenance.
