Mission controllers cancelled the planned take-off of Solar Impulse 2 from Nagoya in central Japan early Wednesday because of weather problems in the Pacific Ocean.

Around 90 minutes after the 2.30 am (1730 GMT) slot they were working towards, project co-founder Bertrand Piccard told pilot Andre Borschberg the take-off had been shelved, delaying their attempt to fly the solar-powered plane around the world.