WWII Bomb Explosion at Japanese Airport Cancels Over 80 Flights

News Today: US WWII bomb explosion causes flight cancellations at Miyazaki Airport

An explosion at Japan’s Miyazaki Airport caused by a World War II-era US bomb has led to the cancellation of more than 80 flights. The minor blast, which occurred on a taxiway, left a crater seven meters wide but did not cause any casualties. No aircraft were in the vicinity when the explosion took place.

Japanese authorities confirmed that the bomb, likely dropped during WWII to hinder kamikaze missions, was a 500lb US bomb. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi assured that there was no further threat of explosions, and a bomb disposal team from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces was dispatched to the scene. Miyazaki Airport, located in south-west Japan on Kyushu island, was originally built in 1943 as an imperial navy base.

This incident is not isolated. Japan still finds unexploded ordinance from WWII, with thousands of bombs defused annually. Similar US bombs were discovered at construction sites near Miyazaki Airport in 2009 and 2011.

Authorities are now focused on reopening the airport as soon as possible, with safety inspections underway. The explosion underscores the lingering presence of WWII artifacts in Japan.