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Heavy snow shuts down NW China airport, stranding 700

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-18 22:45

URUMQI -- Heavy snow has forced Yining Airport in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to close and cancel flights since Thursday morning, stranding almost 700 passengers.

The airport operation center said the snow began at around 8 a.m. and the runways were closed at around 9 a.m. when testing showed runways were too slick to safely operate planes.

Flight GS7483 heading to Yining from Urumqi, capital of the autonomous region, was forced to return after taking off.

Ten flights were delayed due to the snow. By 7 p.m., Yining Airport had not been re-opened.