The Ministry of Land and Infrastructure announced Tuesday that regular lights between Aguni Island and Naha would resume from fall 2017. The flights have been suspended since an accident at Aguni Airport runway occurred more than a year ago.

First Flying Co., Ltd., the company that operated the route before is appointed to operate the resuming flights.

According to First Flying and other knowledgeable sources, First Flying already started classroom training for pilots on Nov. 10 as required by the ministry. The flight training is scheduled to start at the end of February 2017, and the exams for pilots and copilots are expected to be completed by autumn 2017.

A spokesman for First Flying said, “We are coordinating the schedule with the Ministry of Land and Infrastructure, and would like to resume the flights as soon as possible for the sake of local residents. We are determined to make every possible effort ensure the safety of the passengers when our service resumes.”

The accident occurred Aug. 28, 2015 when a Twin Otter DHC-6-400 aircraft crashed into a runway fence when landing, which injured 11 passengers onboard.

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