Japanese Airport Forced to Cancel Flights After Bear Runs Loose on the Runway

Photo Credits: The Daily Beast

A lone black bear apparently decided that humans need to be in top physical shape, especially if a select 100 of them are to survive a battle against a gorilla. So, this bear runs loose on a runway at Yamagata Airport in Japan, where airport staff had to break more than a sweat while attempting to catch it. Air traffic came to a standstill as several flights were cancelled, followed by a full-blown airport lockdown after repeated runway intrusions by this mostly well-intentioned bear. 

First sighted in the wee hours of Thursday, airport officials decided it would be best to shut down operations in the interest of safety. Just when they thought it was safe to resume flights, the bear once again made an appearance around midday, ensuring that more flights were cancelled. 

Photo Credits: Wiki Commons

Officials attempted to scare the bear off using shock-and-awe tactics, rapidly flashing their blue lights from patrol cars to push it away from the tarmac.  

So far, the confrontation so far has failed to produce decisive results. While the bear may have retreated, it is still believed to be somewhere in the vicinity of the airport. “We are in a stalemate now,” said airport official Akira Nagai to a media outlet, confirming that a total of 12 flights had to be cancelled due to the repeated bear intrusions. The runway remained closed for a while.  

While the incident sounds bizarre, it’s not uncommon in Japan. The country has seen a record number of bear encounters in recent years, including numerous attacks and fatalities.