Runaway bear in runway ‘stalemate’ with Japanese airport officials

Authorities at a Japanese airport are locked in a “stalemate” with a black bear which has been roaming the runway despite attempts to chase it off, forcing air traffic controllers to cancel a dozen flights, Report informs referring to The Guardian.

The bear first appeared at northern Yamagata airport in the early hours of Thursday, and officials immediately shut operations down, causing delays.

Then, just before midday, the animal reappeared on the runway, and flights were halted again.

Footage showed a high-visibility airport car on the asphalt, trying to chase the furry trespasser away by flashing its blue lights. The bear was quick to run off, but is believed to be still at large somewhere on the site.

“Given the situation, there is no way we can host plane arrivals now,” the Yamagata airport official Akira Nagai told Agence France-Presse, adding that the second closure led to 12 flight cancellations.

Hunters had been brought in to set a trap and police were positioned surrounding the airport to prevent the bear from escaping. “We’re in a stalemate now,” Nagai said.

The facility planned to keep the runway closed into the evening.