Just before 8AM local time (9AM Japan time) on April 3, 2024, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit Taiwan, triggering a tsunami warning parts of Okinawa at 9:01AM local time. The tsunami warning resulted in dozens of flights to and from Naha and other airports on the archipelago being canceled, as well as dozens being delayed or diverted.
Among other airlines, ANA canceled 13 domestic flights, JAL 22, Skymark Airlines 14, and Peach 14. In total, the 63 canceled flights affected over 11,000 passengers. Additional flights departed with significant delays after ensuring they would be able to land at their destinations.
Flights already on their way to Okinawa when the earthquake struck were diverted to other airports or, like in the case of Jetstar Japan flight 337 from Tokyo Narita to Naha or Hong Kong Airlines flight 676 from Hong Kong to Naha, returned to their origin and were subsequently canceled.
With the tsunami warning being downgraded to an advisory later in the morning and lifted completely later in the day yesterday, operations at Okinawa’s airports appear to be back to normal today.
