The Japanese airport had to cancel at least twelve flights on Thursday because a bear was walking on the runway. Other flights have been delayed. The bear is still on the premises, according to Japanese media.
The black bear has been seen twice on the runway of Yamagata Airport, more than 250 kilometers north of Tokyo. Airport employees tried to chase the animal away in a car, but were unsuccessful.
“As long as this situation persists, we cannot allow airplanes to land,” an airport spokesperson told CBS News. Hunters are setting a trap.
People and bears in Japan come into contact more often. According to scientists, climate change has affected the animals’ food sources and hibernation, causing them to enter urban areas more frequently. From May 2023 to April 2024, 219 people in the country were attacked by a bear. Six people were killed.