Xiaoshan Airport UFO – July 2010 China Shutdown
The Xiaoshan Airport UFO incident is one of the most significant and well-documented UFO events of 2010. A glowing unidentified object caused the complete shutdown of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, one of China’s busiest airports, for nearly an hour.
What Happened at Xiaoshan Airport
On the evening of July 7, 2010, air traffic controllers at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport suddenly spotted a bright, glowing object hovering near the runway. The object was described as emitting a strong light and moving slowly. Fearing a collision, officials immediately grounded all incoming and outgoing flights.
The airport was shut down for approximately 50–60 minutes. Eighteen flights were diverted to nearby airports, and many more were delayed. Hundreds of passengers and airport staff witnessed the object. Multiple videos and photos were taken, and the story quickly spread across Chinese media and the internet.
Key Details of the Xiaoshan Airport UFO
- Date: July 7, 2010
- Location: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, China
- Duration: Airport shutdown lasted nearly 1 hour
- Impact: 18 flights diverted, many more delayed
- Witnesses: Air traffic controllers, pilots, ground crew, and passengers
- Evidence: Multiple eyewitness videos and photographs
Official Explanation vs Witness Accounts
Chinese authorities later stated the object was likely a private plane or a military aircraft that had entered restricted airspace without proper clearance. However, many witnesses and aviation experts disputed this explanation, noting that the object’s behavior (hovering silently and emitting bright light) did not match any known aircraft.
Other Notable 2010 UFO Events
October 2010 – UFOs or Balloons Over Manhattan?
A large cluster of silver and white balloons escaped from an engagement party in New York and drifted over Manhattan, triggering numerous UFO reports and 911 calls.
September 2010 – UFOs at Nuclear Weapons Sites
Over 120 former U.S. military personnel gave testimony about repeated UFO activity near nuclear weapons sites. A major press conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.
April 2010 – NASA UFO Footage
NASA released and compiled hours of intriguing UFO footage from space missions, including objects filmed by astronauts and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Why the Xiaoshan Airport UFO Matters
The Xiaoshan Airport UFO case is significant because it involved a major international airport being forced to shut down due to an unidentified aerial object. Unlike many civilian sightings, this event had immediate operational impact on commercial aviation and was widely reported by mainstream Chinese media. It remains one of the clearest examples of a UFO incident directly affecting air traffic control.
What the Skeptics Say
Skeptics argue the object was most likely a misidentified private aircraft, a weather balloon, or even a Chinese lantern. They point out that no official radar data confirming an unknown object was ever publicly released and that the shutdown was simply a safety precaution.
Nevertheless, the sheer number of eyewitnesses and the fact that the airport remained closed for nearly an hour continues to fuel debate among UFO researchers.
Sources: Chinese state media reports (July 2010), witness videos, aviation authority statements, and subsequent UFO research archives.