A US bomb from the second world war that had been buried at a Japanese airport has exploded, causing a large crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights but no injuries, Japanese officials said.

Land and transport ministry officials said there were no aircraft nearby when the bomb exploded at Miyazaki airport in south-western Japan on Wednesday. LTC Eugene Chu Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Maj Kim Patterson MAJ Ken Landgren Maj (Join to see) Capt Dwayne Conyers Capt Gregory Prickett CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana MSgt Steve Sweeney MSG Stan Hutchison MSgt Michael Bischoff SSgt Richard Kensinger 1SG (Join to see) PO1 Tony Holland PO1 Brian Austin SP5 Dennis Loberger CPL LaForest Gray SrA John Monette SPC Kevin Ford A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney