Passenger plane loses control after landing and skids off the runway into a mound of snow

• e-mail

A passenger plane skidded off the runway and into a pile of snow after landing at an airport in Japan on Thursday morning.

The pilots of the ANA operated flight were reportedly trying to steer the aircraft towards the terminal when they lost control.

There were 25 people on board at the time and no injuries were reported.

A passenger plane skidded off the runway and into a pile of snow after landing at an airport in Japan on Thursday morning

Flight NH1831 had flown into New Chitose airport in Sapporo from Akita and had landed at 11.56am local time, according to AV Herald.

The aircraft was already at taxi speed when it skidded off the runway it was reported.

Crew had been trying to steer it towards the terminal at the time. 

Photographs and video from the scene showed that the airport was completely covered in snow.

In an amateur footage, the plane was seen drifting slowly across the snow before eventually coming to a stop.

It's thought the aircraft had deviated from the runway by about 200ft (60m) but it's not known whether the runway itself was covered in snow.

A total of 21 passengers and four members of crew were on board at the time.

It's thought the aircraft had deviated from the runway by about 200ft (60m) but it's not known whether the runway itself was covered in snow

Photographs and video from the scene showed that the airport was completely covered in snow. Above, staff at the airport working on the aircraft  in the snow

The passengers disembarked on the runway and were bused to the terminal.

ANA has released a statement confirming the incident.

Aviation Wire reported that five aircraft accident investigators were dispatched to the scene by the Japanese Transport Safety Board (JTSB).

The incident is considered a serious one and is now under investigation.

Local media reported that the runway was closed after the incident so that the aircraft could be removed.

It was reopened at 6pm local time but a number of other flights were delayed or cancelled.

A spokesperson for ANA told MailOnline Travel: 'There was an incident with no injury at New Chitose Airport yesterday (Jan 19, local time) and we are fully cooperating with relevant authorities in their investigation of the case. 

'The safety of our passengers and crew members will always be the first priority.'