Solar Impulse take-off from Japan cancelled

Mission controllers cancelled the planned take-off of the Solar Impulse 2 from Nagoya in central Japan early Wednesday because of weather problems in the Pacific Ocean.

Around 90 minutes after the 2.30 am (1730 GMT) slot they were working towards, project co-founder Bertrand Piccard told pilot Andre Borschberg that take-off for the Hawaii-bound plane had been shelved, delaying their attempt to fly the solar-powered aircraft around the world.

"The flight was cancelled because of the weather around Hawaii. It's a cold front. The priority is the plane's safety and the pilot's safety," project spokeswoman Elke Neumann told reporters in Nagoya.

Speaking on a webcast moments after climbing out of the plane's cockpit, Borschberg admitted he was "terribly disappointed", but conceded it was the right thing to do.

"We were looking to find a way to make it, but I think it is reasonable not to exceed certain limits," he said.

"The weather is so unstable over the Pacific."