WWII-era US bomb explodes at Japanese airport, 80 flights canceled
An unexploded World War II-era bomb from the United States went off at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan on Wednesday. The blast caused a lot of damage to a taxiway and led to the cancelation of over 80 flights. No injuries were reported as there were no aircraft nearby when the incident happened.The Miyazaki Airport resumed operations on Thursday morning, with a Japan Airlines plane to Fukuoka departing at around 7:40am local time.
Miyazaki Airport's historical significance and future plans
Miyazaki Airport, which has been around since 1943, was once a training ground for the old Imperial Japanese Navy. It's also where some kamikaze pilots took off on their final missions. Unexploded bombs from the US military's World War II campaign were previously discovered in the area around Miyazaki Airport. According to Reuters, a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 41 tons were disposed of during fiscal year 2023 by the Self-Defense Force.
Investigation confirms WWII-era bomb as cause
The transport ministry office at Miyazaki Airport on Wednesday reported a blast on a taxiway before 8:00am local time as air traffic controllers saw smoke rising from the site. According to the airport office, the explosion caused an oval-shaped hole in the asphalt surface near the taxiway that was approximately 7 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 1 meter deep. The Self-Defense Forces and police confirmed that the explosion was caused by a 500-pound US bomb from World War II.
