Nearly 100 flights were canceled after a buried, unexploded US bomb from World War II detonated at a Japanese airport.
The explosion created a large crater on a taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, but no one was injured. Over 80 flights, including those operated by JAL, ANA, and other airlines connecting Miyazaki to cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, were affected.
Officials from the Land and Transport Ministry confirmed that no aircraft were near the blast site. The Self-Defense Forces and police identified the explosion as being caused by a 500lb US bomb, with no further threat detected. They are investigating the cause of the unexpected detonation.
Japanese TV showed a crater about 21 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep on the taxiway. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that more than 80 flights were canceled, but the airport aims to resume operations by Thursday morning.
Originally built in 1943 as a training field for the Imperial Japanese Navy, Miyazaki Airport saw some kamikaze pilots take off for suicide missions. Several unexploded US bombs have been found in the area. Even 79 years after the war, unexploded bombs are still being discovered across Japan.
In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Self-Defense Forces disposed of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tonnes.
