Piedmont Airlines ERJ-145 slides off snowy runway in New York
Photos from passenger video posted on X (formerly Twitter)A plane slid off the runway at New York's Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) on Thursday afternoon and all 53 passengers and crewmembers on board exited the ERJ-145 safely.
American Airlines Flight 5811 was carrying 50 passengers and three crewmembers when it slid off the runway at ROC. An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed to CBS News in a statement that the plane exited the taxiway while in transit to the terminal due to the snowy conditions on the airfield. Passengers posted photos and videos online of those on board departing safely onto the snow-covered field.
The airline said in a statement to Rochester First that the plane, operated by Piedmont Airlines with service from Philadelphia (PHL) to ROC, exited the taxiway and the aircraft would be taken out of service for a full inspection. Rochester First also reported that several flights were delayed due to the incident.
Passenger Brian Potvin told WROC that everything seemed fine until it wasn't.
"So the plane lands like a normal landing and then we were coming around a turn and I guess the runway was icy and when we came around the turn we skidded off into the grass," Potvin told WROC. "I felt we were in the grass once we were in a complete stop but then the plane slightly tilted to the side. The plane never tilts to the side we kind of knew something was wrong at that point."
All the passengers and crew got off the plane with the assistance of emergency crews and metal passenger stairs. There were no reported injuries.