Bear on runway: Air traffic halted in Japan

In Japan, the clash between humans and nature seriously paralyzed the country's infrastructure for several hours. This time, the incident occurred at Yamagata International Airport, located in Yamagata Prefecture. The Japanese airport, known for its tranquility and well-planned operations, was forced to halt its entire activity due to an unexpected guest — a bear.

Morning “bear signal” – the first alarm
The incident began at around 07:00 local time. Airport staff spotted a predator — a bear — near the runway. Their initial action was to chase it away and remove it from the area, but the attempt was unsuccessful — the bear remained in the vicinity for a long time and by noon approached the runway again.

Flights cancelled, runway closed
The airport administration took the situation seriously and decided to temporarily close the runway and cancel 10 flights in order to ensure safety. This posed significant disruption not only for passengers but also for the entire logistics chain.

Experts summoned, trap set
To remove the bear from the premises, specialists from a local hunting association were called. They set up a special trap, and around 18:00 the bear was caught. By that time, the runway had already been closed and flights cancelled.

Accurate data about the bear
The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reports that the bear caught in the trap was about 1.2 meters tall. Although it left the runway, the runway remained closed for safety reasons, as such animals may return to the area depending on their mood.

Police warning
The Yamagata Prefecture police issued an official warning to local residents:

“Be especially cautious in the evening — wild animals may appear in your area unexpectedly.”

Flights expected to resume
The airport administration stated that tomorrow they will thoroughly inspect the territory, and only after assessing safety will they decide whether to resume flights. This process may require at least several hours.

Conclusion: an “air blockade” caused by a bear
This incident once again showed that even technologically advanced countries are not protected from the unpredictable impact of nature. Especially in Japan, in cities located near mountains and forests, airports face a high risk of such incidents.

From this point of view, the event at Yamagata Airport is not just a flight cancellation or alarm caused by a bear — it is a serious reminder of the need to maintain a balance between humans and nature.

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