‘Kamikaze’ bomb explodes at Japan airport, 87 flights cancelled

A regional airport in southwest Japan was closed on Wednesday after the explosion of what is believed to be a World War Two-era bomb near its runway, leading to the cancellation of nearly 90 flights.
Miyazaki Airport

suspended operations when the blast created a crater seven meters wide and one meter deep on the taxiway adjacent to the runway, according to an official from the Japanese transport ministry.

A bomb disposal team from the

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

later confirmed that the explosion was caused by an American bomb, likely dropped during an air raid to prevent “kamikaze” attacks during the war. The bomb had been buried beneath the surface for decades, the official added.
Although no injuries were reported, local broadcaster MRT shared live footage showing that an airplane had been taxiing just two minutes before the explosion occurred.

As a result of the incident, 87 flights were grounded, but Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi assured that there is no risk of further explosions. Repairs to the damaged area are expected to be completed by Thursday morning.
The affected flights included those operated by Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), and other carriers connecting Miyazaki to major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Miyazaki Airport, located on the southeastern coast of Kyushu island, was previously a Japanese navy base during World War Two, from where many kamikaze pilots embarked on their final missions, according to the Miyazaki city website.
This is not the first time unexploded bombs have been found at the airport. The transport ministry noted that remnants of wartime airstrikes are still discovered across Japan, despite the war ending over 79 years ago. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 2,348 bombs weighing a total of 37.5 tonnes were safely disposed of by the Self-Defense Forces.