World War II bomb explosion in Japanese airport stopping flights

Over 80 flights were canceled at Miyazaki airport after a buried World War II-era bomb detonated on Wednesday, Oct. 6, on one of the airport's taxiways. The bomb, weighing five hundred pounds and creating a seven-meter by one-meter wide and deep crater, led to no casualties.

While four planes had taken off shortly before the explosion, Japanese Land and Transport officials reported that no other aircraft was nearby during the blast in the southwestern Japanese airport. The airport stated that the damage was repaired that night, and flights could resume on Thursday, Oct. 7. 

An investigation led by Japanese Self-Defense Forces along with a bomb squad determined that the source of the blast was a United States bomb. Though officials do not know a specific time frame as to when the bomb was dropped, reports speculate that it was plunged during World War II. 

Officials are still determining what caused the sudden detonation. One plausible theory was that the bomb detonated because of the aircraft's movement. Professor Garren Mulloy, a military issues specialist and instructor at Daito Bunka University teaching international relations, has said these bombs are relatively safe. Yet, he then mentions that “if they are disturbed or their inner workings get wet, then they can become more unstable.”

Mulloy also mentions “Over time, the detonator and primer can deteriorate, but also many were fitted with trembler switches that would detonate the device if someone tries to defuse them after they have been dropped." He concludes, however, that if the bomb and explosion occurred right beneath the aircraft's fuel line, the damage would be minimal.

One possible reason for dropping the bombs during WWII was to prevent kamikaze pilots from taking off and completing their missions as the war neared its conclusion. The airport, constructed in 1943, primarily served as the location where Japanese pilots from the Navy came to train, often along with kamikaze pilots who took off for their last missions. 

The apparent issue with this, however, is that there are still many more unexploded ordnance bombs that could be buried underneath key military targets since World War II, such as at other airports. In the surrounding area of Miyazaki airport, Japanese Defense Officials reported that many bombs have previously been found over the years. Supposedly, the larger bombs are shallow in the depths, while the other bombs, which have gone deeper, are more difficult and may lead to international and local tension. 

On Thursday, Oct. 6, another undetonated bomb was discovered at Naha airport in Okinawa. This bomb is also believed to have been of United States origin, with several being found throughout construction. A similar bomb disposal unit from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces is now responsible for disarming and removing any more explosives found.

All across Japan, undetonated bombs, supposedly from America, are still being found—even 79 years after the war has ended. In 2023 alone, a combined amount of 2,348 bombs were discovered and disposed of. As construction in Japan continues, it appears that there may be more news in the future about United States bombs being found.