Incheon Airport suspends flights due to trash-laden balloon from North Korea

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Incheon Airport suspends flights due to trash-laden balloon from North Korea

Published: 23 Sep. 2024, 09:40 Updated: 23 Sep. 2024, 11:01

Planes wait for signals on Monday morning at Incheon International Airport as takeoffs and landings were temporarily suspended after a trash-carrying balloon was spotted in the sky near the airport at around 5:25 a.m. The photo was sent in by a reader of the JoongAng Ilbo. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Takeoffs and landings at Incheon International Airport were temporarily suspended on Monday morning due to trash-laden balloons sent from North Korea.

According to sources from the Incheon International Airport Corporation, a trash-carrying balloon was spotted in the sky near the airport at 5:25 a.m. on Monday. After authorities confirmed that the balloon had fallen into the ocean near the airport, takeoffs and landings resumed at around 6:43 a.m.

At 6:55 a.m., authorities discovered debris from the balloon within the airport’s compound, prompting another suspension of air traffic. Takeoffs and landings resumed again at 7:08 a.m., according to a report by the JoongAng Ilbo on Monday.

An airport official said that "further disruptions in air traffic are expected on Monday as debris from trash-carrying balloons continues to be spotted."

This marks the first time a balloon has disrupted airport operations during the morning, a peak time for departures and arrivals.

Earlier this month, a North Korean trash balloon landed inside the airport’s fueling station.

Since May, Pyongyang has sent trash-laden balloons to Seoul 22 times.

The balloons reportedly carried scraps of paper and plastic, with no hazardous substances detected by the South Korean military. However, Seoul authorities suspect that timer devices attached to the balloons may have caused several fires across the greater Seoul area. The timer device causes the plastic bag containing the trash to burst after a certain period, allowing the contents to fall to the ground.

Update, Sept. 23: Added details of the second air traffic delay and background on previous balloon launches.

BY PARK YOUNG-WOO [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]