Labuan Airport operations were disrupted on July 2, 2026, after authorities discovered a suspected World War II bomb approximately 200 metres from the airport runway on Royal Malaysian Air Force land near Kerupang [1, 2, 3]. This discovery occurred at about 3:45 pm and forced the airport to suspend activity pending bomb removal [1, 2].
The incident followed an earlier disruption on June 26, 2026, when several similar suspected World War II bombs were unearthed at the same location, also prompting operational delays [1, 2, 3].
The Royal Malaysian Air Force and police forces have been collaborating to safely remove and demolish the newly found bomb. Labuan Police chief Supt Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Zaki confirmed, "The situation was under control, and bomb disposal teams were carrying out the safe removal process. He advised members of the public to remain calm, and not to spread unverified or false information which could cause unnecessary panic" [1].
Several scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, and Miri faced delays, and one flight from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan was diverted to Miri due to the disruption [1, 2, 3].
Airport operations are expected to resume after 8 pm once the bomb has been safely removed and authorities declare the area clear [1, 2, 3].
The recent discoveries and removal efforts highlight ongoing challenges with unexploded ordnance near Labuan Airport. Teams continue their work to ensure the safety of air travel in the area.
