Breaking: High surf and debris damage runway shoulder, closing Unalaska airport

By SUZANNE DOWNING

The Tom Madsen Unalaska Airport is currently closed as crews assess and respond to damage caused by severe weather that hit the Aleutians over the weekend of Dec. 27–28.

According to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, which manages the airport, initial inspections by materials engineers found no damage to the actual runway pavement itself. The primary damage appear to be along the runway shoulder, where wave overtopping and storm-driven debris, such as driftwood, was pushed onto the airfield during the height of the storm. The runway, about 550 miles southwest of Kodiak, is partially vulnerable to waves from the Gulf of Alaska, which has seen stormy weather over the past few weeks.

DOT&PF officials said monitoring will continue in case additional deterioration occurs, particularly as winds remain elevated. Any new debris deposited on the airfield will be removed as quickly as conditions allow, the department said. Permanent repairs to the runway shoulder will be scheduled once weather conditions stabilize and it is safe for crews to proceed.

Watch video of the storm here.

In addition to the shoulder damage, storm impacts affected airfield electrical components. An electrical contractor is on site conducting repairs, and DOT&PF anticipates that this work will be completed today unless unexpected complications arise.

The airport closure is part of a broader storm response effort underway in coordination with the City of Unalaska, as the community continues to deal with high surf and reported disruptions to communications services. DOT&PF geohazards and materials staff have been mobilized to assess potential hazards related to the runway and surrounding infrastructure.

Travelers are being advised to contact their airline (Aleutian Airways) directly for flight status updates, rebooking options, and other travel arrangements. DOT&PF is also urging the public to use caution near coastal roads and low-lying areas, where wave overtopping and localized flooding remain possible.

The airport primarily serves Dutch Harbor/Unalaska (they are adjoining communities). It also functions as the regional aviation hub for the central and western Aleutians, so residents, workers, and cargo tied to nearby communities often route through Unalaska, including Akutan, Nikolsy, Umnak Island communities, and other Aleutian and Pribilof communities through charters, medevacs, and private planes.

Additional updates will be released as assessments are completed and repair timelines are confirmed, DOT said.