US gov't charter flights begin to leave Japan

The first US chartered aircraft has left Japan with about 100 people aboard headed for Taiwan and another flight is anticipated on Friday, the US State Department said on Thursday.

"It left about four hours ago and it's en route to Taipei ... the flight did not leave full," Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy said. He said the passengers included family members of US government employees and a small number of private US citizens who have chosen to depart Japan due to the ongoing nuclear crisis. (Reuters)