A Komatsu Airport runway crack grounded flights for hours Monday. It marked the second time this year that pavement damage has shut down the civilian-military airfield in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.
Ground crews inspecting the runway at Komatsu Airport discovered the defect around 10:30 a.m. local time on Monday, Oct. 5, according to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which oversees the airport’s civil aviation operations. The crack measured roughly 40 centimeters square and about 4 centimeters deep, officials said.
Komatsu Airport Runway Crack Forces Hours-Long Closure
The airport closed its single runway immediately after the discovery so crews could inspect the pavement and carry out repairs. Citing airport officials, several outlets initially reported the closure was expected to last until around 3:40 p.m., nearly five hours after the crack was found. NHK later updated its report Monday. The broadcaster said the runway was ultimately shut for about three hours in total, indicating repairs wrapped up well ahead of the early estimate.
The disruption rippled through the schedules of Japan’s two largest carriers. A Japan Airlines flight bound for Komatsu from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport diverted to Chubu Centrair International Airport. An All Nippon Airways flight on the same route diverted to Toyama Airport instead. Additional flights on routes including Fukuoka and Sapporo were delayed or canceled. NHK reported six domestic flights to and from Komatsu were ultimately scrapped for the day.
Komatsu Airport’s runway is shared with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Komatsu Air Base, home to the 6th Air Wing. JASDF personnel conducting a routine inspection were the ones who spotted the crack, according to local broadcasters. The Self-Defense Force is leading the investigation into the cause, and as of Monday officials had not determined what made the pavement fail.
Second Pavement Failure at Komatsu This Year
Monday’s closure was not an isolated incident. Komatsu Airport’s runway also closed in February 2026 after inspectors found a hole in the pavement. JASDF investigators said then that aging and deterioration from repeated takeoffs and landings were the likely cause. A definitive finding was never reported publicly. Two pavement failures on the same runway within eight months raise questions about the surface’s condition heading into the busier winter travel season.
Ishikawa Prefecture markets Komatsu Airport as a gateway to the Hokuriku region. The prefecture had not issued a public statement on the latest closure as of Monday evening, though local commerce depends heavily on the airport remaining operational for flights connecting the region to Haneda and other domestic hubs.
Why Runway Pavement Cracks Are a FOD Hazard
Cracks and holes in runway pavement are treated as serious foreign object debris hazards. Loose chunks of concrete or asphalt can break free under the stress of landing gear and be ingested by jet engines, causing catastrophic internal damage. They can also puncture aircraft tires during high-speed takeoff and landing rolls. Airports typically close a runway immediately upon finding such damage until crews confirm the surface is clear of loose material and structurally sound. Similar pavement failures have closed runways elsewhere this year, including a hole that shut part of Manchester Airport’s runway twice within three weeks in August and September.
Repairs to the Komatsu Airport runway were completed Monday afternoon, and flight operations resumed on schedule for evening departures, according to local broadcasters.
Subscribe to FODNews for continuing coverage of FOD incidents and prevention worldwide.
Sources
- Nippon News Network (NTV) — “Crack Found in Komatsu Airport Runway, Flights Affected” (Mon., Oct. 5, 2026)
- FNN Prime Online — “Komatsu Airport Again: Runway Closed Over Crack, Destinations Changed” (Mon., Oct. 5, 2026)
- Daily Sports — “Crack Found in Komatsu Airport Runway, Affecting Takeoffs and Landings” (Mon., Oct. 5, 2026)
- NHK — “Ishikawa: Crack in Komatsu Airport Runway, About Three-Hour Closure Leads to Cancellations” (Mon., Oct. 5, 2026)
- Kyodo News (via Yahoo! Japan) — “Crack Found in Komatsu Airport Runway, Airfield Closed” (Mon., Oct. 5, 2026)
