A B-1B Lancer bomber takes off from Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 22, 2025. (Mattison Cole/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. bomber’s emergency landing that shut down a shared runway and canceled commercial flights in northeastern Japan has drawn sharp rebuke from local officials, who demanded stronger safety measures from the Air Force and Japan’s Ministry of Defense.
The B-1B Lancer, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, landed at Misawa Air Base around 6:05 p.m. Tuesday after declaring an in-flight emergency, said Capt. Leeroy Stark, a spokesman for the 35th Fighter Wing.
The runway — shared with commercial flights at Misawa Airport and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force — was closed for about 90 minutes as a precaution before reopening around 7:30 p.m., he said by email Thursday.
Japanese media footage showed the bomber immobilized on the runway surrounded by emergency vehicles with flashing lights. Japan Airlines said a flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport was forced to return without landing, and its return flight was also canceled, affecting about 200 passengers.
“The B-1B paused on the runway as a precautionary measure to allow first responders to inspect the aircraft before clearing it to taxi off the runway,” Stark said.
The incident prompted protests from Misawa city and Aomori prefecture leaders, who on Wednesday issued formal requests for preventative action to both the base commander and Japan’s defense ministry.
“We believe that the incident causes anxiety to the people of the prefecture, where Misawa Air Base is located,” the Aomori prefectural government wrote in the letter, which was posted on its website. “We deeply regret that it occurred despite our request for civil stability and safety measures made on April 18.”
Misawa city filed a similar protest, urging the base and the Tohoku Defense Bureau — an arm of the defense ministry — to determine the cause, disclose further details and implement measures to prevent a recurrence. A city base affairs official told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday that the incident caused “great concern” among residents.
The April 18 safety request followed the arrival of at least two Lancers at Misawa for a bomber task force deployment, part of the Air Force’s ongoing mission to bolster regional security. Stark confirmed the aircraft involved in Tuesday’s emergency was part of that mission.
“Bomber Task Force deployments support the larger Indo-Pacific strategy to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said. “No matter the airframe, Misawa Air Base is dedicated to ensuring safe and effective flight operations.”
While the Air Force has not disclosed the number of bombers or personnel deployed, Stark said the base works closely with Misawa Airport to balance military and civilian operations.
“Conducting successful and safe operations is a top priority of the U.S. Air Force,” he wrote.
