An American Airlines aircraft veered off the runway and onto the grassy area after landing in snowy conditions at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in New York on Thursday. The Embraer E145, which was carrying 53 passengers, had just touched down and was being taxied to the terminal around 4 p.m. when the incident occurred, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and American Airlines representatives.
The mishap was attributed to “snowy airfield conditions” resulting from light snowstorms in the region, according to an American Airlines spokesperson. Social media footage revealed emergency service crews attending to the aircraft, with firefighters guiding passengers onto the snow-laden field.
Fortunately, the incident did not result in any injuries among the 50 passengers and three crew members on board. “Safety is our top priority, and we apologize to our customers for their experience. Everyone on board deplaned safely and was transported to the terminal by bus,” the American Airlines spokesperson stated.
The aircraft had just completed a 300-mile trip from Philadelphia International Airport. However, the plane landed nearly an hour later than scheduled, according to data from Flightaware. Light snow was falling in Rochester at the time of the incident.
The region is bracing for another heavy snowfall, with Buffalo, located nearby, expected to receive a significant snowfall of 2 to 4 inches per hour over the weekend. Following the incident, the plane was towed off the taxiway and taken out of service for a comprehensive inspection. The FAA is currently investigating the incident.