Japan Airport Closed After WW2-Era Bomb Explodes Near Runway, 87 Flights Canceled – Reuters

By Kantaro Komiya

A regional airport in southwestern Japan was closed on Wednesday following the explosion of a U.S. bomb, likely from World War II, which was detonated near its runway. The incident resulted in the cancellation of nearly 90 flights.

Miyazaki Airport had to shut down its runway after the explosion created a crater measuring seven meters (23 feet) wide and one meter (3.2 feet) deep in the middle of the taxiway adjacent to the runway, as confirmed by a Japanese transport ministry official.

A bomb disposal team from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force determined that the explosion was caused by an American bomb that had been buried underground, likely a remnant of a wartime air raid. There were no reported injuries; however, footage showed that an airplane had been taxiing close by just two minutes before the blast, according to local media.

The airport’s closure grounded 87 flights, but authorities have reassured that there is no risk of further explosions. Repair efforts to fill the crater are expected to be completed by Thursday morning, as stated by Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s top government spokesperson.

The affected flights included services by various airlines connecting Miyazaki with major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Miyazaki Airport, located on the southeastern tip of Kyushu island, was once a Japanese navy base until the end of World War II, serving as a launch point for many "kamikaze" pilots on their final missions.

Officials reported that unexploded ordnance has been discovered multiple times at Miyazaki Airport in the past. More than 79 years after the war’s conclusion, undetonated bombs from the extensive air assaults continue to be found throughout Japan. The Self-Defense Forces reported disposing of a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tonnes during the fiscal year 2023.