A World War II-era bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan on Wednesday, creating a massive disruption in air travel. The explosion, which occurred on a taxiway near the runway, left a 7-meter-wide, 1-meter-deep crater, forcing authorities to cancel over 80 flights. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident caused significant travel delays for passengers and airlines alike.
The blast is believed to have been caused by an American bomb buried underground since World War II. Bomb disposal experts confirmed that the explosion was likely from ordnance left over from an air raid during the war. The discovery of such bombs is not uncommon in Japan, where remnants from the conflict still occasionally surface, but unexpected detonations are rare. Japan’s top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated that while the cause of the sudden detonation is under investigation, authorities have confirmed that there is no immediate risk of further explosions.
The incident prompted the closure of Miyazaki Airport, grounding flights by major carriers such as Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). The closure affected connections between Miyazaki and key Japanese cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. A total of 87 flights were canceled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Airlines are working to accommodate affected travelers and resume normal operations as soon as possible.
Efforts to repair the damage are already underway, with authorities expecting to fill the crater and reopen the runway by Thursday morning. While this incident has caused major disruptions, officials are ensuring that flight operations will return to normal soon, and they are continuing to investigate how the long-buried bomb was triggered after so many years.