The Japanese transport ministry has classified engine trouble that forced a Japan Airlines plane to make an emergency landing in southwest Japan on Thursday as a “serious incident” that could have led to an accident. In Thursday’s incident, engine parts fell from the Tokyo-bound aircraft shortly after it took off from Kumamoto Airport, forcing it to return and make an emergency landing there. On Friday the transport ministry sent four officials to confirm whether the parts found Thursday are from the plane, and also to search for additional parts. It will later dispatch three inspectors to look into the incident. The falling parts cracked a clinic window in Mashiki, Kumamoto Prefecture, and also damaged a car on the premises, but no injuries were reported, local police said. A turbine blade behind the left engine sustained widespread damage but it is unlikely it was caused by a bird strike, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. At least 10 components, all measuring about 5 cm in length, were found within a few dozen metres of the clinic.<br/>
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Delta says it will resume nonstop flights next year between the US and Mumbai, India. The airline is crediting recent US agreements with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates over alleged subsidies to three big Persian Gulf carriers that also fly to India. Delta said Thursday it will announce schedule details later this year. It also plans to sell other flights within India on partner Jet Airways. Delta dropped India in 2015, leaving United as the only US carrier flying there, to Mumbai and Delhi.<br/>
Delta’s planes and airport operations will soon be awash in shades of purple, red, gray and pink as the company joins an industry rush to refresh employee attire. All 60,000 uniformed workers will switch May 29 to the new outfits, which include flight-attendant clothing designed by Zac Posen and made by Lands’ End, Delta said Thursday. The garments include suits and dresses in “passport plum,” “cruising cardinal” and “groundspeed graphite,” which replace the current colour scheme dominated by dark blue. About 1.2 million garments have been distributed to employees including mechanics and baggage handlers. Ground workers will be mostly decked out in red and gray. Coats for flight attendants are available in red and gray with purple lining, with shirts offered in light pink as well as white. Pilots will miss out on the new colour choices: They’ll still be clad in black. Delta is introducing the new uniforms after a three-year effort that involved employee input and wear tests.<br/>
A Korean Air heiress whose tantrum over nuts delayed a flight nearly four years ago is being investigated by South Korean immigration officials on suspicion she unlawfully hired housekeepers from the Philippines. Cho Hyun-ah on Thursday bowed and apologised for "causing troubles" before entering a Korea Immigration Service office in Seoul for questioning. Cho and her sister resigned from their executive positions at Korean Air in April following public criticism over their behavior and allegations their family mistreated and abused employees. Investigators are also looking into suspicions that the Cho family, including the company's chairman Cho Yang-ho, evaded taxes and used airline services to smuggle luxury goods.<br/>