Tokyo--At 11:40 July 23 (TYO time), All Nippon Airways received notification that ANA flight 61, a Boeing 747-400 with 517 passengers and crew aboard, was hijacked en route from Tokyo (Haneda airport) to Sapporo (in Hokkaido). The hijacker was restrained at 12:11 and the aircraft landed safely at Haneda Airport in Tokyo at 12:14.

ANA captain, Naoyuki Nagashima (51 years), was pronounced dead at 12:37. There were no other injuries reported among the remaining 516 passengers and crew. Most of the passengers have since been rerouted to Hokkaido on later flights.

ANA President & CEO, Kichisaburo Nomura said: "We are greatly saddened by the tragic loss of the life of a brave man and an exemplary employee. This event has cast a shadow over all of us here today at ANA as we mourn this terrible loss."

The investigation of the hijacking is now being conducted by the Japanese Police Agency. ANA is unable to confirm further details about what happened inside the aircraft.