An inbound plane skidded off the runway at New York Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Saturday, authorities said. United Airlines flight 627 from Denver came in at 1 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane skidded off the pavement after landing. It got stuck in the grassy area off the landing strip. No injuries have been reported, the FAA said.
According to United, the plane blew a tire, which sent it skidding. The flight had 166 passengers.
Newark temporarily stopped accepting arrivals and departures.
EWR is now operating in a limited capacity. The NTSB has instructed that the aircraft in the earlier incident not be moved until investigators arrive. [03]
— Newark Liberty Airport (@EWRairport) June 15
Passengers used a staircase to get off the plane and were taken by bus back to the terminal, CBS New York reported.
PAPD Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit, ESU, and patrol worked the scene and evacuated passengers.
Passengers were escorted off the plane via stairs before the aircraft was towed off the airfield. Buses took passengers to the terminal.
The FAA did not report injuries, and United said those who had minor injuries refused medical attention.
Officials have not confirmed why the airplane skidded off the runway, and the FAA is en route to the airport to begin the investigation.
The flight originated at Denver International Airport.
United Airlines released a statement following the incident, saying, in part:
“For those on the flight, we arranged transport for passengers from the aircraft to the airport terminal and paramedics were on site as a precaution. We’re in close touch with the FAA and airport authorities and are working expeditiously to safely remove the disabled aircraft so that operations at the airport can return to normal.”
A United Airlines employee at Newark Airport told Eyewitness News that all baggage from Flight 627 will be delivered to passengers’ homes, as crews cannot open the baggage compartment in the plane.