Heavy snowfall in Hokkaido, Japan disrupts flights

Strong winds and heavy snowfall in Hokkaido, Japan caused disruptions to train and flight schedules, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

A total of 14 locations, mainly in eastern Hokkaido, recorded 50cm or more of snowfall in 24 hours by 8am (Japan time) on Dec. 15, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Sapporo Regional Headquarters.

This was due to a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system over the weekend.

Kamisatsunai and Taiki in the Tokachi area recorded 68cm of snowfall while the area near Lake Akan in the Kushiro area recorded 56cm.

Strong winds caused power outages affecting 35,910 households across Hokkaido around 6:30 am (Japan time), according to the Hokkaido Electric Power Network, Inc.

Plane pulled by tow tug

The operator of Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport said that as of 6pm on Dec. 14, "very rough weather" had forced the cancellation of 159 flights originally scheduled to depart or arrive that day, reported NHK World.

A Jetstar Japan plane was reportedly stranded at the airport for around three hours before being pulled by a tow tug to a parking apron at around 7pm (Japan time) on Dec. 14.

None of the 167 people onboard were injured, the airline said.

Private jet skidded

Earlier, a private jet originally from Singapore skidded off the runway at New Chitose Airport on Friday evening, Dec. 12 at about 6:40pm.

Five passengers were on board, including a small child. They were accompanied by three flight attendants.

Firefighters rushed to the scene even though there was no fire, and no injuries were reported, according to NHK and Kyodo News.

The aircraft appeared to have overshot the runway.

It then stopped on snow-covered ground, HBC News reported, adding that it was snowing at the time.

The incident is being investigated.

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