Airport ground staff assisted a plane as heavy snow covered the runway at the New Chitose International Airport.

Footage shows workers attending to the plane's wheels while passengers waited to disembark in Hokkaido, Japan, on December 14.

Passenger Manbe said: 'After landing, the runway was frozen, and we could not make the turn to the parking area, so we had to be towed by a tug. It was a rare experience.'

The Japan Airlines flight disembarked with all passengers safely.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's Sapporo Regional Headquarters, dozens of areas mainly in eastern Hokkaido, recorded 50 cm or more of snowfall until December 15.

More than 40 flights to and from New Chitose Airport were cancelled, and the Hokkaido Railway Company was expected to cancel hundreds of train journeys.