SDF aircraft temporarily blocks Naha runway

NHK -- Jul 18

A Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft blocked a runway at Naha Airport in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa on Tuesday, causing it to be closed temporarily.

Self-Defense Force officials say an E-2C early warning aircraft came to a halt near the runway it had just landed on.

They say the aircraft had flat tires on its front landing gear as well as its left main gear.

An NHK camera at the airport showed SDF vehicles and fire engines gathered around the plane, which was later towed away.

The runway was closed for an hour and 40 minutes, until 7:20 PM. Airlines say some of their flights had to be diverted to other airports or returned to their points of origin.

SDF officials say there have as yet been no reports of injury.

Jul 18 (ANNnewsCH) - 17日午後、那覇空港で自衛隊のE2C早期警戒機が着陸時にパンクし、滑走路付近で動かなくなりました。この影響で現在、那覇空港では滑走路が1時間以上にわたって閉鎖されています。