First U.S. Charter Flight Leaves Japan

The first U.S. chartered aircraft has left Japan with about 100 people aboard headed for Taiwan and another flight is anticipated on Friday, the U.S. State Department said 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 U.S. government employees and a small number of private U.S. citizens who have chosen to depart Japan due to the ongoing nuclear crisis.