In Japan, nearly ninety flights were canceled after an old, unexploded bomb from WWII went off unexpectedly at a Japanese airport. The incident happened at Miyazaki Airport, located in the southwest part of the East Asian island country.
The explosion occurred just before 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday. It left a large hole in the taxiway, measuring 23 feet wide and over 3 feet deep. The airport quickly closed off its runway.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, and no planes were close by when the bomb went off, according to the Land and Transport Ministry.
Authorities reported that the explosion scattered asphalt fragments across a 200-meter area, reaching as far as the runway. A nearby aviation school captured a video of the blast, showing pieces of asphalt shooting into the air like a fountain.
The explosion caused 87 flights to be canceled
The runway closure caused 87 flights to be grounded. However, chief government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi assured the public there was no risk of further explosions.
The canceled flights included those operated by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, connecting Miyazaki to major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Local firefighters, who were first to arrive at the scene, reported receiving information about a loud explosion. The fire department spokesperson said they got a call from the airport at 7:59 a.m. local time, reporting smoke from an incident.
Soon after, the police ordered airport staff to evacuate the area for safety. NHK World reported that four flights had already traveled along the taxiway earlier on Wednesday just before the explosion occurred. A Japan Airlines plane, carrying 93 passengers, went through the area only a few minutes prior to the blast.
Nearly 34,000 travelers affected by flight cancelation
The canceled flights impacted around 34,000 travelers, leaving many forced to adjust their plans. One passenger, Shun Akahori, 28, shared his experience with Kyodo News.
“I had switched to another flight but that too has been canceled, so I talked with my company and decided to extend my stay,” he said. After consulting his company, Akahori decided to stay longer, as he was returning to Osaka after a business trip in the region.
Operations at the Miyazaki Airport returned to normal on Thursday morning, as a Japan Airlines flight took off for Fukuoka at around 7:40 a.m. local time.
Located at the southeastern edge of Kyushu Island, Miyazaki Airport once functioned as an Imperial Japanese Navy base during World War II. It was a key departure point for numerous young “kamikaze” pilots on their final missions.
The airport has had issues before with unexploded ordnance. Several unexploded bombs dropped by US forces during the war have been discovered there, as confirmed by a transport ministry representative.
