A passenger who arrived at Japan's Narita international airport on Thursday has tested positive for the swine flu in a preliminary examination, Kyodo News reported, citing airport sources.

The woman passenger, a Japanese national who traveled on a Northwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles, was sent to Japanese Red Cross Narita Hospital.

Some 10 other passengers sitting around her would be transported to another medical institution for further examinations, the report said.

If officially confirmed, it will be the first case of swine flu in Japan as the nation has not seen an outbreak of the disease.