Japan Airlines has appointed a former flight attendant as president. She will be the first woman to lead a major airline in the country.

Tottori Mitsuko is currently a senior managing executive officer. She will assume the new post on April 1.

In a press conference on Wednesday, she vowed to promote safety. Tottori joined the company in 1985. "The crash that year of a JAL jet that killed 520 passengers and crew left a deep impression. We want to work with even stronger determination with unwavering belief in safe flight operations, which are the foundation of the airline," Tottori said.

Japan Airlines is drawing attention to safety procedures after a collision between one of its passenger planes and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft this month killed five people. All aboard the JAL flight survived.