Latest news with #YamagataAirport
Tokyo Weekender
a day ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Black Bear Causes Chaos at Yamagata Airport
A black bear caused chaos at Yamagata Airport on Thursday, forcing air traffic controllers to cancel more than 10 flights. It was first spotted near the runway at approximately 7 a.m. Officials shut operations down, leading to a delay of up to an hour for flights. The large mammal then reappeared around noon, again halting flights. The runway was closed as airport staff used a high-visibility car to chase the bear away. 'Given the situation, there is no way we can host plane arrivals now,' said Yamagata airport official Akira Nagai. He added, 'We're in a stalemate.' Three box traps were set up. However, at the time of writing, the bear still hasn't been caught. It hasn't been seen since yesterday at around 3 p.m. Currently, operations are continuing as normal at the airport. Bear Injures Two Men in Nagano Prefecture On the same day that the black bear was wreaking havoc at Yamagata Airport, two forestry workers were attacked by a bear in Agematsu, Nagano Prefecture. They were spraying deer repellent in a forest at the time of the attack. According to the Nagano Prefectural Police and the fire department, the bear first bit the face of a 32-year-old man. The second man, aged 64, was bitten on his right leg. Both men were conscious as they were taken to hospital. In April, Japan enacted a revised law allowing municipalities to authorize the 'emergency shootings' of dangerous animals that enter urban areas. Approved by the House of Councilors, it will take effect before the end of the year. A record-high 219 casualties, including six deaths, from bear attacks were reported in Japan in the 12 months to April 2024. Related Posts Bear Captured After Raiding Supermarket in Akita City for Several Days Why Nara's Sacred Deer Are Attacking Tourists A Surprise Christmas Guest: Bear Found Under Kotatsu Blanket in a Japanese Home
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Video shows bear block airport runway as flights cancelled
A black bear caused significant disruption at Yamagata Airport in Japan on Thursday, June 26. The bear was seen running on the tarmac, prompting airport staff to attempt to remove it. The incident resulted in the cancellation of 12 flights, as the airport was unable to accommodate arrivals. Police and hunters were dispatched to the airport to assist in capturing the animal. Watch the full video above.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Bear on runway at Japanese airport causes travel chaos as flights cancelled
A bear on the loose on the runway of a Japanese airport resulted in delayed flights as staff tried to shoo the animal away. Footage shows the black bear running around on the tarmac at Yamagata Airport on Thursday (26 June) with a car in hot pursuit as it tries to usher the furry trespasser off the runway. The airport cancelled 12 flights as it dealt with the unexpected visitor, with an official stating: 'Given the situation there is no way we can host plane arrivals now.' Hunters and police reported to the site to capture the bear, which as of Thursday evening local time, is still understood to be on the site.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
‘We're in a stalemate': Bear evades capture on airport runway as flights cancelled
A bear who managed to get onto a runway at a Japanese airport caused aviation havoc after staff had to cancel flights while trying to catch the trespassing animal. Video clips have captured a black bear roaming across Yamagata Airport's runway on Thursday, while an airport vehicle followed the bear in pursuit. The bear caused initial disruption earlier that day, first appearing around 7am, resulting in flight delays and the closure of its runway. The animal then reappeared at noon as staff used a car to chase it away, causing a second runway closure. "Given the situation, there is no way we can host plane arrivals now," Yamagata Airport official Akira Nagai told AFP, adding the second closure led to 12 flight cancellations. Domestic flights arriving from and departing to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo were all cancelled between midday and 6.30pm on Thursday, data from FlightRadar shows. Hunters set up traps to capture the bear, and police officers stationed themselves outside the airport to prevent it from escaping. "We're in a stalemate now", Nagai added, saying that the airport planned to keep the runway closed into the evening. By Friday morning, flights were arriving and departing as usual, indicating that the bear had likely been removed from the runway. Scientists say that climate change is affecting food sources and hibernation times, causing bears to venture into towns and populated spaces more frequently. It is not the first time an animal has disrupted flights and airport operations by sneaking onto a runways. A huge alligator wandered across the runway of an airport in Florida back in October. Witnesses estimated that the reptile measured 10ft in length as it waddled over the tarmac at Orlando Executive Airport. An airport worker was filmed trying to shoo the animal away as it walked close to an aircraft. Meanwhile, Dublin Airport has been known to deal with a spate of bird and hare strikes, as the wildlife live near the runway and can often hit an aircraft. In 2018, a much larger animal found its way onto the runway at Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in India – a stray cow caused two flights to abort their landings. Yet it can be the tiniest of creatures that can cause the most trouble of all, such as when mouse caused a power outage at one of Europe's busiest airports in 2024. Part of Frankfurt Airport's power supply was cut for several hours when the tiny dormouse caused a short-circuit in an electricity substation. The little rodent caused hundreds of passengers to miss their journeys as eleven flights were cancelled as a result.
CNN
a day ago
- CNN
Bear on runway forces flight cancellations in Japan
A bear running around the runway at Japan's Yamagata Airport has forced staff to cancel flights on Thursday. Traps set up near the runway have failed to catch the bear but will remain in place, according to airport officials. Flights departing from and arriving at Yamagata Airport on Friday are operating as usual.
