Ex-flight attendant Mitsuko Tottori becomes Japan Airlines’ first woman president

Japan Airlines Co. is appointing Mitsuko Tottori, a former flight attendant and executive in charge of customer experience, as the carrier’s first woman president.

“I have been focusing on safe flight operations as a cabin attendant and will work to keep this in mind from now as well,” Tottori told reporters at a news conference in Tokyo. “I am proud of the crew.”

‘I thought we wouldn’t survive’: how 367 flyers were saved from Japan jet blaze

Tottori, who joined Japan Airlines in 1985, will replace Yuji Akasaka, who will become board chair after the shuffle.

The Japanese airline said earlier it plans to book a 15 billion yen (US$103 million) charge for losing the Airbus SE A350-900 jet that burst into flames following the January 2 mishap, adding that the loss will be covered by insurance.

Japan Airlines will have to buy a new aircraft after its jet was lost in the fire following the collision, Akasaka said.

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Five killed after coastguard plane collides with Japan Airlines passenger jet at Haneda airport

Five killed after coastguard plane collides with Japan Airlines passenger jet at Haneda airport

The carrier will take measures to avoid recurrence of the incident after the cause of the accident is determined in the investigation, which is ongoing, Akasaka said. He cited the fact that communication between air traffic controllers and aircraft “remains analogue,” creating risks for the industry.

The Japan Airlines flight was landing on the same runway where the Japan coastguard’s De Havilland Canada Dash 8 was preparing for take-off to deliver relief supplies for victims of the earthquake that hit northwestern Japan a day before.