Checks of foreign planes to double

The transport ministry will double snap inspections of foreign airlines' planes to about 200 per year at major airports to curb the rise in accidents and mechanical problems, officials said Saturday.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has judged it necessary to strengthen measures to secure the safety of planes arriving in Japan because foreign flight services to Japan are on the rise, the officials said.

The inspections began in 1999, but they are now less frequent compared with many other countries because the inspectors responsible for such snap checks are permanently stationed at domestic airports, they said.