Immobilized SDF fighter jet leads to runway closure at Okinawa airport
NAHA (Kyodo) -- A runway was closed at Naha Airport in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa on Tuesday after a Japanese Self-Defense Forces fight
Naha Airport in Okinawa experienced a runway closure on Tuesday due to a Japanese Self-Defense Forces fighter jet becoming immobilized after landing, according to the transport ministry. The incident involved an Air Self-Defense Force F-15 from the nearby Naha Air Base, with no injuries reported. Runway B, where the F-15 landed, was closed for approximately four hours, from around 12:55 p.m., before operations resumed.
Passenger planes had been using Runway A, but there were delays in arrivals and departures. The fighter jet had returned from a scramble mission before the incident, and was subsequently found tilted to the left with its left main landing gear broken. The airport office received immediate notification from the ASDF and confirmed that there had been trouble during landing.
The immobilized fighter jet was removed from the runway using a crane. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki expressed disappointment over the incident and called for a prompt investigation into the cause, as well as measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Runway B has been operational since March 2020.
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