Passengers were onboard the plane, but everyone is okay, a representative from the airport said.
DES MOINES, Iowa — A plane slid off the runway at the Des Moines International Airport, according to Sarah Hoodjer, the airport’s communications manager.
A Delta Air Lines aircraft slid off the runway onto the pavement at approximately 9:30 p.m. Saturday on its way from Detroit, Michigan. Onboard the CRJ-900 aircraft were 54 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants, but no one was injured. Passengers deplaned and were transported by bus to the terminal.
The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation, according to Hoodjer and a statement from Delta Air Lines. Hoodjer added that the aircraft remains on the pavement and will be moved once it is formally released by the NTSB.
The Federal Aviation Administration reports that DSM is closed and will reopen at 2:30 p.m. According to data from the website FlightAware, at least two flights bound for DSM have been rerouted: A flight from Houston landed at MCI in Kansas City, and a flight from Denver is set to land at OMA in Omaha.
Local 5 received the following statement from Delta Air Lines:
“Delta teams at Des Moines International Airport are working to ensure our customers are taken care of after Delta Connection flight 5087 operated by Endeavor Air left the paved surface of the taxiway due to icy conditions upon landing. Safety comes before all else and we apologize to our customers for the experience.”
This is a developing story. Local 5 has a crew heading to the scene and will update this article as more information becomes available.