HEXA Flights Suspended for the Remainder of EXPO 2025

A HEXA electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft experienced a component failure while performing demo flights at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Though it was able to land without an issue, the bird and its twin will remain grounded until event organizers say otherwise.

The HEXA is manufactured by LIFT Aircraft. It is a single-seat, ‘flying car’ style aircraft powered by 18 independent electric motors. The device is designed to serve as a personal transportation vehicle, able to land on both water and earth and be controlled via a triply redundant autopilot computer with a single, 3-axis joystick.

LIFT has been showcasing the HEXA’s advanced capabilities since April 14 as part of the annual World Expo in Osaka, Japan. Demonstrations have been held at the “EXPO Vertiport" of the Smart Mobility Expo area, designed to show off Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology in a big way.

“We’re bringing the future of personal air transportation to life for Expo attendees,” said LIFT Aircraft Founder and CEO Matthew Chasen.

At around 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 26, one of the HEXA’s eighteen propellers and part of the arm connecting it to the fuselage cracked during an EXPO demonstration flight. It descended from around 30 feet above the ground and was able to perform a safe landing, not injuring the pilot or any bystanders in the process.

Despite the relatively fortunate outcome, the Expo Association announced the following day that ‘flying car’ demonstrations are being put on hold until further research can be done to confirm safety. This includes both the HEXA that had problems, JX0194, and the other LIFT demonstrator on site, JX0195.

FMI: www.liftaircraft.com