Abbott delegation grounded in Tokyo

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Asian tour has been delayed after a RAAF jet breakdown grounded at least 10 CEOs and media in Tokyo.

The executives and travelling media were due to accompany the prime minister to South Korea this morning where Mr Abbott will sign another free trade agreement, after concluding FTA negotiations with Japan.

The plane, normally used as a troop carrier, was scheduled to depart Tokyo to Seoul at 4.30am (local time).

But instead, it was left stranded on the tarmac at Haneda airport due to a "serious technical problem", with the CEOs not allowed to board.

Among the delegation was Macquarie Bank boss Nicholas Moore, Santos boss David Knox and the boss of Woodside Peter Colman.

"It would have been nice if they had told us before we had to get up at 3.30am to get to the airport," one unnamed CEO commented.

A RAAF official told The Daily Telegraph that the plane could be stuck in Tokyo "for days" while technicians worked to fix the problem.

Mr Abbott's own flight was unaffected and is believed to have taken off on time this morning.

It is reported the CEOs and media would follow Mr Abbott to Seoul on a commercial flight.

Source: Herald Sun
Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Matthew Henry