TOKYO (AP) — An unexploded U.S. bomb from World War II that had been buried at a Japanese airport exploded Wednesday, causing a large crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights, Japanese officials said.
No one was hurt, and there were no aircraft nearby when the bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, Land and Transport Ministry officials said.
An investigation by the Self-Defense Forces and police confirmed the explosion was caused by a 500-pound U.S. bomb and there was no further danger. Officials were determining what caused its sudden detonation.
Somebody set the fuse incorrectly. Years Vs seconds - who cares about the difference.
More concerning, there’s been aircraft landing on this thing for 80 years.
Taxiing!
With a landing/take off, there’s a likelihood (maybe small) that the plane could be traveling fast enough to avoid the bulk of the blast.
Taxiing, there’s no way.
There’s a bomb defusal every couple of months in densely populated areas of my city still. When building in previously unbuilt areas you are required by law to have a bomb defusal team there with you when doing any sort of digging.
This is in Germany btw
Now the airport gets the opportunity to pay a civils contractor to rebuild the runway, thus raising the GDP of Japan. American economic development at its finest.
It’s fine; in about 500 years there’ll be unexploded American ordinance in every country, probably America too if there’s another civil war.
There’s already UXO in America. In just the past four years, WWII have been discovered and detonated on three separate occasions - and that was just in New Jersey, I have no idea about what’s gone on in other states.
There’s a nuke underwater somewhere off Tybee Island, GA.
There’s a nuke unaccounted for that fell in Goldsboro, NC too. Could’ve broken apart but it could also just be buried out there somewhere
A 500lbs. bomb doesn’t get you very much. I’m surprised how little damage there is.
the u.s. just loves bombing japan so much it can’t help itself, even now
They don’t even have to try to start bombing places, it seems.
