A Delta Air Lines subsidiary plane slid off an icy runway at Des Moines International Airport in Iowa on Saturday night, forcing the airport to close and causing widespread flight disruptions over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Endeavour Air Flight 5087, a Bombardier CRJ-900, veered off the paved surface of the taxiway after landing at 9:30pm local time, according to an airport spokesperson. The flight had arrived from Detroit, carrying 54 passengers who had to deplane via stairs and were bused to the terminal.
No injuries were reported, and Delta apologised to customers, stating that safety was the priority. The airline offered compensation to those affected. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
The airport confirmed on social media that the runway incident led to its closure, resulting in dozens of flight cancellations, diversions, and severe delays, with some arrivals delayed by more than half a day. The airport reopened by mid-morning on Sunday, 30 November.
Winter weather conditions, including snow and ice, had prompted storm warnings across the region. Over 1,400 flight cancellations were reported across major US airports over the weekend as the cold snap affected travel.
