Charter plane carrying Miami Heat slides on taxiway at Mitchell Airport

MILWAUKEE -- Flights arriving and departing at General Mitchell International Airport were temporarily suspended Wednesday evening, January 11th, due to icy conditions in the plane parking/taxiway -- the area where planes taxi to the gate.

The temporary suspension was lifted around 7:30 p.m. -- and an hour-and-a-half later, a charter plane carrying the Miami Heat basketball team slid on a taxiway.

Those on board the Miami Air charter plane were disembarking Wednesday night at the Signature terminal at Mitchell, where they boarded a bus.

The Milwaukee Bucks face the Miami Heat Friday, January 13th at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

According to Mitchell Airport officials, ice in the parking areas around the airport posed a threat to workers and passengers Wednesday evening. Officials at the airport cannot treat these surfaces with salt as it causes planes to rust.

The icy conditions led to a temporary suspension of arrivals and departures -- mainly impacting arrivals, as there are few departures in the evening. One plane had to be towed to the gate.

Four arrivals were canceled.

Three departures were canceled.

Two flights were diverted.

Mitchell Airport officials said some of those were likely due to weather conditions outside of Milwaukee (i.e. Chicago, where four of the impacted flights originate or terminate).

An airport spokesman said ice was never an issue on the runway.

The "temporary suspension" was lifted around 7:30 p.m.

Those expecting to pick up passengers from inbound flights were encouraged to call their airline for updates.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates.