A shower of metal fragments that fell onto a residential area in the city of Fukuoka from a jetliner whose engine caught fire soon after takeoff Friday night underscored the risks posed by Fukuoka Airport, located some 7 km from the city center.
One of the airport's advantages, according to its supporters, is this proximity to the city, the largest in Kyushu. Just a five-minute subway ride from JR Hakata Station, some have called it "the most convenient airport in the country."
On Friday, however, residents discovered that convenience comes with a price.