Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport, a joint civilian and US military facility in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, experienced a temporary runway closure due to multiple drone sightings.
This incident, which took place the evening of 22 December, resulted in a significant delay for an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight inbound to the airport.
Temporary Closure of Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport
According to reports from local news source NHK, the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism notified ANA of the disruption. The Ministry relayed the message to the airline around 7:00 PM local time on 22 December.
It advised of multiple drone incursions reported at Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport, rendering the runway temporarily unusable.
As a result, the inbound ANA flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) was unable to land at Iwakuni. After circling overhead for a period, the aircraft subsequently diverted to Hiroshima Airport for refueling.
Runway operations resumed shortly after 8:00 PM, allowing the flight to proceed to Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport. However, the delay amounted to approximately three hours.
This disruption also impacted the return flight to Haneda, causing a similar delay. In total, approximately 250 passengers were affected by these flight disruptions.
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Recent Unidentified Drone Activity in US
The recent drone sightings at Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport echo a series of similar incidents that have unfolded in New Jersey and surrounding areas in the United States.
These sightings have raised significant concerns about aviation safety and national security, despite leading US authorities claiming there is no evidence of a threat.
Despite the claim by authorities that it was commercial drones operating “legally and lawfully”, it led to temporary closures of airport facilities and subsequent regulatory actions by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio recently experienced a series of drone incursions, leading to temporary airspace closures. These incidents highlight the growing concern over unauthorized drone activity near critical infrastructure and military installations.
- Multiple sightings: Drones were spotted near and over designated areas of the base on multiple occasions, prompting security measures.
- Airspace restrictions: The base implemented temporary airspace restrictions to mitigate potential risks associated with the drone activity.
- Ongoing investigation: Authorities are investigating these incidents to determine the source and intent of the drone operators
Another notable example was the recent temporary closure of New York Stewart International Airport due to drone activity.
This incident, along with numerous other sightings in the region, prompted the FAA to implement a temporary ban on all drone overflights in several New Jersey regions.
This ban aimed to mitigate the risks posed by unauthorized drone operations and ensure the safe and efficient operation of air traffic in the affected areas.
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