Bear on Runway Halts Flights at Japanese Airport

YAMAGATA, Japan – A black bear caused significant disruption at Yamagata Airport on Thursday, leading to the closure of its runway and the cancellation of ten flights. The approximately 4-foot-tall animal was first sighted on the airport premises early in the morning. After briefly disappearing, the bear reappeared several hours later, prompting authorities to take action to ensure public safety. The unexpected presence of the bear forced the airport to halt operations, affecting flights to major Japanese cities including Tokyo and Osaka. Airport officials are currently investigating how the wild animal managed to breach the airport's security perimeter and access the runway area. Efforts are underway to safely remove the bear from the airport grounds and prevent similar incidents in the future.