On October 2, 2024, Miyazaki Airport in southwest Japan experienced an emergency closure after a bomb, likely dating back to World War II, exploded near a runway, forcing the cancellation of 87 flights. The bomb, believed to be American and from a wartime air raid, left a significant crater in the airport’s taxiway.

Incident Overview

The explosion occurred on Wednesday morning OCT 2, leaving a seven-meter-wide (23 feet) and one-meter-deep (3.2 feet) crater on the taxiway adjacent to the airport’s primary runway. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, live footage from local broadcaster MRT revealed that an aircraft had been taxiing nearby just two minutes before the explosion, emphasizing the narrow avoidance of a potential disaster.

Flight Disruptions

87 flights were grounded as a result of the incident. These cancellations affected major domestic routes operated by Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), connecting cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka to Miyazaki. Officials reassured the public that no additional unexploded bombs posed an immediate threat, and repairs to the damaged taxiway were projected to be completed by Thursday morning.

Historical Context of Miyazaki Airport

Miyazaki Airport, located on the southeastern coast of Kyushu Island, has deep historical ties to Japan’s wartime past. It once served as a Japanese navy base, from which numerous young "kamikaze" pilots embarked on their final missions during the final stages of World War II. The bomb, suspected to have been dropped during an air raid to target these suicide attacks, remained buried beneath the surface for decades until Wednesday’s detonation.

This incident is not isolated. Japan continues to face the legacy of unexploded ordinance left over from World War II. According to Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, over 2,300 bombs, weighing a total of 37.5 tons, were disposed of during the 2023 fiscal year alone. Miyazaki Airport has also been the site of multiple discoveries of unexploded bombs in the past.

Immediate Response

Following the explosion, a bomb disposal unit from Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed that the artillery was a U.S. bomb from WWII. Emergency services quickly responded to assess the area and begin repairs. Fortunately, the government assured citizens and travelers that the risk of further explosions was minimal.
 

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi provided updates, stating that work to repair the taxiway would be completed by the following day, allowing operations at the airport to resume quickly.

Conclusion

Though World War II ended more than 79 years ago, Japan continues to manage the remnants of the intense airstrikes it endured, as highlighted by the Miyazaki Airport explosion. While no casualties occurred in this incident, the discovery of unexploded ordnance remains a sobering reminder of the long-lasting impacts of war.
 

With the airport set to reopen and safety assured, the focus now shifts to continued efforts to locate and safely dispose of WW2 bombs that still lie hidden beneath Japan's land.