Japan Suddenly Cancels 100 Flights, What's Happening?

Japanese airlines cancelled more than 100 flights on Friday (26/6/2026) as two tropical storms, Mekkhala and Higos, lashed the archipelago. Japan Airlines cancelled 70 flights to and from the southern regions of Okinawa and Kagoshima, while All Nippon Airways cancelled 50 flights. Authorities also advised evacuations in several areas, warning of potential flooding and landslides. Automotive manufacturer Nissan said it would temporarily halt production due to the disaster, and Toyota also suspended factory operations in Kyushu. Tropical Storm Mekkhala brought wind gusts of up to 144 km/h, causing heavy rain across southern and western Japan, with the storm expected to pass over Kyushu and Shikoku islands over the weekend. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Higos is approaching Japan from the Philippines and is likely to make landfall by Sunday. The local weather agency noted that this could result in an atmospheric phenomenon known as the Fujiwhara effect when two storms interact, complicating forecasts of their movement and strength. The Japanese military also cancelled the inaugural flight of a V-22 Osprey transport aircraft to Miyako Island, which had been part of a joint exercise with the United States.