Thursday, March 5, 2015

Delta Flight Skids Off Runway At New York's LaGuardia Airport (Photos)

A Delta Air Lines jet skidded on landing at LaGuardia Airport during a winter storm on Thursday, then crashed through a fence before coming to a stop feet from the icy water, officials said on Thursday. There were 127 passengers and five crew members aboard Delta Flight 1086, an MD-88 that arrived in New York from Atlanta at about 11:05 a.m. local time. It traveled thousands of feet down Runway 13, veered to the left and crashed through the chain-link fence that separates the airport from Flushing Bay. The plane came to rest on an embankment, nose perilously poised over the frigid waters as passengers and crew evacuated in the snow.


Officials said there were about two dozen minor injuries reported, including two passengers who were taken to a hospital for treatment. Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, praised the pilot and crew for acting quickly and keeping the injury toll relatively light. “I think the pilot did everything he could to slow the plane down,” Foye told reporters at a news conference. “Those good efforts are reflected by the fact there were only minor injuries.” There was no immediate cause for the accident, which will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. Foye said he would not speculate about what caused the incident, but noted that two other flights had landed without problem just minutes before the Delta flight. Those pilots reported “good braking action” on that same runway, he said.

Officials said there were about two dozen minor injuries reported, including two passengers who were taken to a hospital for treatment. Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority, praised the pilot and crew for acting quickly and keeping the injury toll relatively light. “I think the pilot did everything he could to slow the plane down,” Foye told reporters at a news conference. “Those good efforts are reflected by the fact there were only minor injuries.” There was no immediate cause for the accident, which will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. Foye said he would not speculate about what caused the incident, but noted that two other flights had landed without problem just minutes before the Delta flight. Those pilots reported “good braking action” on that same runway, he said.

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