Unexploded Bomb Causes Taxiway Explosion at Miyazaki Airport, Suspends Flights
Miyazaki, The Gulf Observer: A dud shell exploded on a taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan on Wednesday morning, prompting the immediate closure of the runway and suspension of all flights. No injuries were reported in the incident, authorities confirmed.
The explosion occurred around 8 a.m., with video footage from the Civil Aviation College—located at the airport and used as a pilot training facility—showing a black cloud of dust erupting from the ground just two minutes after an aircraft passed the site.
Upon investigation, officials from Japan’s Ministry of Transport found a large hole measuring 7 meters in diameter and 1 meter in depth. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s explosive ordnance disposal unit was dispatched to the scene to assess the damage.
The explosion, attributed to a U.S.-made bomb, temporarily halted all flights to and from the airport. Authorities aim to resume services by Thursday morning after filling the hole, according to airport officials.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed the origin of the explosive, explaining during a press conference in Tokyo that Miyazaki Airport, formerly an Imperial Japanese Navy air base, has previously been affected by unexploded World War II bombs. In 2011 and 2021, similar incidents involving unexploded U.S. shells were reported at the airport.
Local authorities responded quickly to the explosion, with firefighters receiving reports of the incident at around 8:10 a.m. Police instructed airport personnel and passengers to evacuate the area, while long lines formed at airline counters as travelers sought alternative arrangements.
One such traveler, Shun Akahori, a 28-year-old businessman from Osaka, expressed frustration. “I had switched to another flight, but that too was canceled, so I talked with my company and decided to extend my stay,” Akahori told reporters.
Located about 5 kilometers from central Miyazaki, the airport serves both domestic and international routes, including flights to and from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Osaka.
