American Airlines Plane Slides Off Runway

An American Airlines plane swerved off the runway into the grass at New York’s Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport last Thursday shortly after landing. The unlikely incident happened around 4 p.m. during a snowy weather spell. The scene, quite uncomfortable for passengers and crew alike, was triggered by slick conditions thanks to a light snowstorm sweeping across the region.

The plane, an Embraer E145, was carrying 53 individuals onboard. After landing, its next course was the terminal when the slip occurred. Fortunately, everyone onboard was safe, with no injuries reported. This undoubtedly speaks volumes about the emergency services’ efficacy and their rapid reaction to the incident.

Social media was abuzz with videos of the event, showcasing the emergency crews’ response. Firefighters were seen leading passengers across the snow-coated field, away from the plane. An unexpected welcome certainly, but a considerable relief given the circumstances.

Luckily, the incident didn’t escalate beyond this point. The airline, reacting promptly, assured everyone that safety was their utmost priority. They took responsibility for the unfortunate experience and quickly provided transport to the terminal for the passengers and crew, alleviating further stress.

According to a Fox Weather report, “At least one of the airport’s three runways was temporarily closed as crews responded to the plane.”

The plane had earlier completed a 300-mile haul from the Philadelphia International Airport. Despite being behind schedule by nearly an hour, the landing was successful, no doubt a credit to the pilot’s skills in the unpredictable weather.

However, the weather in Rochester wasn’t letting up. Light snowfall had set in at the time of the incident, and the forecast suggested it was only going to get worse. A heavy snowstorm was looming, with Buffalo expected to receive a thick blanket of 2 to 4 inches of snow per hour over the weekend.