The runway at Okinawa's Naha Airport was temporarily closed Tuesday evening after an Air Self-Defense Force aircraft blocked it, ASDF and airport officials said.

The runway was closed around 5:40 p.m. following the incident involving an E-2C early warning aircraft, forcing several Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways flights bound for Naha from Tokyo's Haneda airport to land elsewhere.

The ASDF said the E-2C aircraft with five crew members aboard likely had two flat tires when it landed. The aircraft was towed from the runway and the airport resumed operations around 7:20 p.m.

Naha Airport is used by both civil aircraft and ASDF aircraft.