"Flying car" demos at Osaka Expo halted as part falls mid-flight
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 19:16 | All, Japan, Expo
Demonstrations of one of the "flying cars" at the World Exposition in Osaka have been suspended for safety checks after a part fell from a vehicle mid-flight but with no injuries reported, the event's organizing body said Sunday.
With other flying vehicle operators yet to finalize their schedules for public showcases at the six-month event, demonstration flights at the expo will be suspended until their safety is confirmed.
According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, on Saturday afternoon a part of a motor propeller fell mid-flight from a Hexa single-seater electrical vertical take-off and landing vehicle developed by U.S. firm Lift Aircraft Inc. and operated by Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp.
The aircraft was flying above the expo's takeoff and landing area and landed safely. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Four operators initially aimed for commercial flying taxi to provide access to the event's venue on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. But all the operators later gave up on carrying passengers in their electric aircraft due to safety challenges.
The Osaka expo opened to the public on April 13 and will run through Oct. 13.
Related coverage:
World Expo in Osaka tops 1 mil. visitors in first 13 days
Organizers, visitors bracing for hot weather at Osaka World Expo
Osaka Expo draws 119,000 visitors on opening day amid rain
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