Xiaoshan Airport closure
- Date
- 7 Jul 2010
- Place
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Zhejiang, China
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
Around 9 pm on 7 July 2010 the airport was closed for about an hour after twinkling lights were reported overhead; Xinhua confirmed the closure, and about 18 flights were delayed or diverted. Officials later said the cause had been identified but that, because of a 'military connection', it was not the proper time to disclose it. Investigators from the Beijing and Shanghai UFO research groups could not obtain radar data, and the regional air traffic bureau said its radars had not detected the object; photographs circulated in the media turned out to be unrelated to the event. Proposed explanations include a private or military aircraft and a missile test.
What officials concluded
Tentative explanation
Authorities: cause known but not disclosed because of a military connection
Strongest ordinary reading
An aircraft, probably military, or a missile test
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- Yes: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- Yes: Other
- Yes: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: UFO sightings in Chinaen.wikipedia.org
- CNN: China UFO debunked (20 July 2010)edition.cnn.com
On the map
30.23° N, 120.43° E, plotted at the site
Show on the map