Shifting permafrost threatens Alaska village's new airport

Tununak Airport near Bethel is facing acatastrophic problem, as airlines are refusing to land there due tothe village's shifting permafrost.

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KYUK-FM reports that the airport shut down on Thursday. Itsrunway is buckling due to changes in the area's permafrost.

Both Ravn Alaska and Grant Aviation state the runway is toodangerous for pilots to land on.

Tununak, like most Alaska communities, relies on air travel formany goods and services.

Gordon Tester, Tununak's school principal, says community membersstarted asking questions when they stopped seeing planes fly in. He says the village stores' shelves have been pretty much empty.

Community members have resorted to driving across the tundra withall-terrain vehicles to pick up groceries and mail in Toksook Bay.

The airport opened about a year ago and cost $19 million.

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