Airline forced to put on extra flights after dozens of sumo wrestlers made planes too heavy to fly

An airline was faced with an awkward predicament after getting some unexpected passengers.

More than two dozen sumo wrestlers rocked up to two airports in Japan hoping to fly to Amami Oshima, which is an island in the far south of the country.

The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper says there was a competition happening on the island and they were heading there to be a part of the event.

They arrived at Haneda airport in Tokyo and Itami airport in Osaka to board the Boeing 737-800 flights, however the airline was worried the planes would be too heavy to fly.

Bernard Bisson/Sygma via Getty Images

Sumo wrestlers can weigh from 120 kilograms and heavier, so they were definitely bigger than your average flyer.

There were fears the extra weight would affect the plane's fuel supplies so the airline made the 'very unusual' of arranging special flights just for them.

A representative for the Gunma wrestlers said in a local TV report: “I was joking about the possible weight concerns, but it actually turned into a problem. We had great support, although we are a little tired.

The Guardian also says the airport at Amami is shorter than other ports and the plane might have struggled to get off the ground with the additional weight on the return journey.

A spokesperson for Japan Airlines explained to local media outlet Minami-Nippon Shimbun: “It is extremely unusual for us to operate special flights due to the weight restrictions on this aircraft."

According to the Daily Mail, the company is used to having passengers weigh roughly 70 kilograms, so this was a big upgrade.

Japan Airlines had to then put on another series of special flights to ensure the group of sumo wrestlers got back to their respective homes.

The sports festival in Amami Oshima is one of the biggest in Japan's calendar.

More than 450 athletes reportedly travel to the small island to compete in various sports.

There's a winter version that occurs earlier in the year to accomodate the likes of skiing and ice hockey, however the main events happen in September and October, the MailOnline reports.

Sumo wrestling is a sacred sport in Japanese culture and sees two wrestlers compete against each other in a small ring.

Their aim is to get their opponent outside that ring and then they are victorious.

Topics: Sport

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

@stewartperrie