Komatsu Airport runway reopens after crack forced closure
In short
Komatsu Airport in Ishikawa Prefecture closed its runway on the morning of 5 October after a crack about 40 centimetres by 40 centimetres and 4 centimetres deep was found in the asphalt, and it reopened the same day. A Japan Airlines flight from Haneda was diverted to Nagoya and an All Nippon Airways flight to Toyama. Outlets differed on the reopening time, with Nippon TV and Yomiuri expecting around 3:40 p.m. while NHK and Asahi reported resumption after 1:30 p.m.
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Komatsu Airport in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, closed its runway on the morning of 5 October after cracks and peeled asphalt were found, and reopened it the same day. Asahi Shimbun reported that members of the Air Self-Defense Force’s Komatsu Base, which shares the runway, found the damage during an inspection and notified the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Komatsu Airport office. Nippon TV and Asahi reported the crack measured about 40 centimetres by 40 centimetres and was about 4 centimetres deep, a figure Yahoo! News Japan also cited. The airport office closed the runway from 10:40 a.m. for repairs, according to TBS NEWS DIG and Asahi. NHK, citing the ministry office, said use resumed after 1:30 p.m. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
Two flights were sent elsewhere. Nippon TV reported that a Japan Airlines flight from Haneda bound for Komatsu changed destination to Nagoya and an All Nippon Airways flight to Toyama. TBS, citing the Osaka Civil Aviation Bureau’s Komatsu Airport office, said the JAL flight went to Chubu Centrair and the ANA flight to Toyama Airport. Yahoo! News Japan reported that cancellations and destination changes continued. [ 2 , 4 , 8 ]
Outlets gave differing timing. Nippon TV, in a report at 11:28 a.m., said repairs were under way and reopening was expected around 3:40 p.m., and dated the crack discovery to 10:30 a.m. on 4 October; Yomiuri also reported an expected reopening around 3:40 p.m. NHK and Asahi, however, said runway use resumed after 1:30 p.m. Yahoo! News Japan, posting at 3:26 p.m., reported that the temporarily closed runway had reopened. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 10 ]
Nippon TV said the cause of the damage was not known and that the Self-Defense Forces were investigating. Yahoo! News Japan noted that the airport’s runway was also closed in February this year after a hole was found, a detail not reported by the other outlets. [ 2 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Komatsu Airport serves Ishikawa Prefecture and shares its runway with the Air Self-Defense Force’s Komatsu Base, so a closure affects civil flights and base activity at the same field. The disruption lasted hours and the documents report no injuries. Attention turns to what caused the damage, which Nippon TV said was under investigation.
Key facts
- Komatsu Airport in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, closed its runway on the morning of 5 October after cracks and peeled asphalt were found. [ 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The damage measured about 40 centimetres by 40 centimetres and about 4 centimetres deep, according to Nippon TV, Asahi and Yahoo! News Japan. [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]
- The runway was closed from 10:40 a.m. for repair work. [ 4 , 5 ]
- A Japan Airlines flight from Haneda bound for Komatsu was diverted to Nagoya and an All Nippon Airways flight to Toyama, Nippon TV and TBS reported. [ 2 , 4 ]
- NHK and Asahi said runway use resumed after 1:30 p.m.; Yahoo! News Japan reported the runway had reopened in a 3:26 p.m. post. [ 1 , 5 , 10 ]
- Nippon TV said the cause of the damage was not known and that the Self-Defense Forces were investigating. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The runway at Komatsu Airport was closed on 5 October after cracking and pavement damage were found. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The damaged area was about 40 centimetres by 40 centimetres and 4 centimetres deep. [ 2 , 5 , 8 ]
- The closure began at 10:40 a.m. [ 4 , 5 ]
- A JAL flight from Haneda was diverted to Nagoya and an ANA flight to Toyama. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The runway was reopened the same day. [ 1 , 5 , 10 ]
Still unclear
- The time the runway reopened. NHK and Asahi said use resumed after 1:30 p.m., while Nippon TV and Yomiuri said reopening was expected around 3:40 p.m.; Yahoo! News Japan later reported the runway had reopened without giving a time.
- The date and time the damage was first found. Nippon TV dated the discovery to 10:30 a.m. on 4 October, while other outlets describe the damage being found and the runway closed on the morning of 5 October.
- What caused the cracking and peeling. Nippon TV said the cause was not known and that the Self-Defense Forces were investigating; no other document explains the cause.
- Whether the airport’s runway was also closed in February. Only Yahoo! News Japan mentions a February closure after a hole was found; no other document confirms it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A crack on the runway is confirmed, according to Nippon TV, which dates the finding to 4 October. [ 2 ]
- The airport office closes the runway for repair work. [ 4 , 5 ]
- NHK, citing the transport ministry’s airport office, reports the runway had been unusable and that use resumed after 1:30 p.m. [ 1 ]
- Runway use resumes after repairs, NHK and Asahi report. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan posts that the temporarily closed runway has reopened. [ 10 ]