UFO Forces Hangzhou Airport Closure in July 2010

On the evening of July 7 2010 Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in eastern China experienced an unusual disruption when an unidentified flying object appeared in the airspace.

Multiple witnesses including commercial pilots and air traffic controllers reported a bright glowing object hovering or moving erratically near the airport.

In response to the potential safety threat authorities ordered the temporary closure of the facility diverting incoming flights to nearby airports.

The shutdown lasted approximately 50 minutes during which at least 18 flights were affected.

Photographs and video footage taken by witnesses circulated widely showing a luminous object against the night sky.

Chinese media outlets including state television covered the incident prompting discussions about aviation security and unexplained aerial phenomena.

No official identification of the object was ever released though some speculated about conventional aircraft or weather phenomena.

The event remains one of the most documented airport related UFO incidents in modern aviation history highlighting the challenges faced by authorities when dealing with unknown aerial objects.