DES MOINES, Iowa - Snow and ice plastered a wide area of the Midwest on Saturday, making highways hazardous and closing Des Moines' airport.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Snow and ice plastered a wide area of the Midwest on Saturday, making highways hazardous and closing Des Moines' airport.

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The National Weather Service posted winter storm and ice warnings across Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the eastern Dakotas and northern Michigan. Accumulations of 6 inches to 16 inches of snow were forecast in parts of Minnesota.

Much of Iowa was hit with snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Officials decided to close Des Moines International Airport after a United Airlines plane slid off a taxiway as it was heading to a runway to take off on a flight to Chicago's O'Hare, said airport spokesman Roy Criss.

Criss said there were 44 passengers on board, who were taken back to the terminal by bus. No one was injured.

Criss said the airport would be closed at least until mid-afternoon.

Jeff Kovick, a United spokesman, said the company is investigating.

"Safety is our no. 1 priority. We'll fully investigate the incident. We're focusing on trying to get our customers to their destinations as safely and as quickly as possible," Kovick said.

The Iowa Department of Transportation said travel was not advised on highways in central and south-central parts of the state, according to its Web site.