Plane slides off taxiway, none hurt in Urumqi airport

URUMQI - Two passenger planes slid off an icy taxiway before take-off at Urumqi airport in northwest China Tuesday morning, but no one was hurt, the airport said.

The nosewheel of a Shanghai Airlines plane skidded off the taxiway at 9:33 am as the aircraft was making a turn at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Later at 10:10 am, the main landing gear of another plane operated by China Southern Airlines skidded off the taxiway, forcing the crew to abort take-off.

Neither incident caused injury to anyone on board or damage to the planes. The airport has downgraded operations to ensure safety.

Following the incident, Shanghai Airlines removed the company's flight division manager from his post. The company's deputy general manager in charge of safety was also ordered to "make a deep self-examination."

Investigations have been launched.