All flights in and out of Tokyo's Haneda airport, the nation's busiest domestic air hub, were suspended for about one hour from 11:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) Tuesday due to a power failure involving the air traffic control systems.

According to the Japanese transport ministry's airport office, the power was restored later and the airport reopened for flights at around 12:30 p.m. (0330 GMT).

But 21 flights scheduled to land at the airport were diverted to other airports such as those in Sendai, Narita and Nagoya, and 12 other flights had been canceled, according to Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

The government has set up a taskforce and is looking into the cause of the incident, which may be linked to the power distribution system of the airport control tower.

Faced with the summer vacation season, both the departure and arrival halls were crowded, with many trying to get in touch by mobile phone with family members they had come to pick up. Check- in procedures were also delayed.

The incident also affected flights departing from other domestic airports in Japan such as Osaka and Kansai airports.

Source: Xinhua