Panic as Delta passenger jet skids off runway after landing in snowstorm at Detroit airport
Plane with 70 people on board ended up in snowy grass when it tried to turn off the runway as heavy snow batters parts of the US
A PLANE skidded off the runway and onto grass at Detroit Metropolitan Airport yesterday as snowstorms batter parts of the US.
The Delta jet had 70 passengers and crew on board when it landed yesterday before noon, but the harsh weather conditions caused it to end up in grass as it turned from the runway to the taxiway.
No passengers were injured and customers were helped off the tail of the MD-88 plane and bussed to the airport terminal.
A spokesperson for Detroit Metropolitan Airport revealed the incident is being investigated.
They said: "Shortly before noon today, a Delta aircraft, inbound from Buffalo, NY, slid off a taxiway at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
"There were no injuries. The Airport Authority and Delta Air Lines worked together to safely deplane the passengers and transport them to the terminal.
"Delta Air Lines is assisting any passengers impacted by the incident. The cause is under investigation.
"Despite the incident, operations are continuing at DTW.
"However, due to the weather conditions, travellers are reminded to check with their airline to confirm their flight status."
In 2012 another MD-88 Delta jet was involved in an incident at Detroit, where it's wing clipped an empty shuttle bus and knocked in on its side.
There were no injuries but both the plane and bus suffered 'considerable damage'.
Yesterday's flight had come from the city of Buffalo, in New York, and was just one of many affected by heavy snowfall across the state of Michigan.
More than 1,500 flights had been cancelled by Sunday afternoon at airports in Chicago and Detroit as a blanket of snow swept the state.
Earlier this week heavy snow caused a 40-car pileup in Michigan, which killed three people and injured 11.
Up to 10 inches of snow are expected to fall in parts of Michigan, and parts of Vermont in the east could see up to a foot.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for parts of the Great Lakes and North East, as the storm forces schools to close.
National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Steinwedel said: "For the rest of the day the best advice is just to stay off the road if you can, and otherwise go slow and give yourself more time to reach your destination.
"If you don't have to drive or go somewhere, stay home."
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