Too heavy to fly: Airline forced to add extra flights for sumo wrestlers
A Japanese airline was forced to book an extra flight for a group of sumo wrestlers after they made their plane too heavy to take off.
The elite wrestlers had been scheduled to fly from Tokyo to Osaka to take part in Japan’s premier sporting tournament last week.
But at an average weight of 264lbs (120kg), officials soon realised they would have to bring in extra planes to ferry the athletes over, Japan News reported.
‘It is extremely unusual for us to operate special flights due to the weight restrictions on this aircraft,’ an airline representative told a local news outlet.
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Japan Airlines said most passengers weigh about 70kg (154lbs).
Flights 2465 from Itami and 659 from Haneda were judged ‘potentially overweight’, after the sumos readied to board on September 12, according to 373 news.
The airline then added on Flight 4677 from Haneda, taking 14 from the first Haneda flight.
When the National Sports Festival of Japan tournament ended on September 15, the airline prepared another special flight for the return leg ensuring nobody will be left in Amami City.
Reports say the airline will also ensure the regular flight from Fukuoka to Haneda is upgraded to a ‘larger aircraft’.
Some 460 athletes journeyed to Anami for the festival Japan’s premier sports event of the year.
The festival has stages for ice hockey and skiing in January and February before coming together for the main events in September and October.
Sumo wrestling is a traditional Japanese combat sport where two enormous wrestlers, or rikishi, try to force each other out of a circular ring or make any part of their opponent’s body, except the soles of their feet, touch the ground.
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Its origins date back over a thousand years, with roots in Shinto rituals and military training.
Sumo has evolved from a religious ceremony to a professional sport with strict traditions and customs.
The sport consists of various rituals, a strict hierarchy, and a focus on physical strength, balance, and technique.
Today, it remains a highly regarded and popular sport in Japan, with a rich history and cultural significance.