Delta jets glide off the runway under snow at RDU, officials say

RALEIGH, NC (WNCN) – As snow began to fall harder Friday night, a passenger plane slipped off a runway at RDU International Airport, officials said.

The incident happened around 9pm and involved Delta Flight 5501 which was on its way to RDU from Washington, DC, RDU officials said in a press release.

“The flight landed safely, and as it pulled off the 5L / 23R, it rolled down into the mud,” a press release from RDU officials said.

There were 19 passengers on board the jet, which FlightAware identified as a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-900, and they were on their way to terminal 2. No injuries were reported.

The airport was closed until around 22:30. FlightAware previously reported that all RDU-incoming flights were kept from taking off.

“We are completing the snow removal on the alternative runway 5R / 23L and will reopen when the snow removal is completed,”[ads1]; the press release states.

Around 10.30 pm, the 5R / 23L was reopened for air traffic. But the 5L / 23R remained closed while the aircraft was towed.

FlightAware also said that the jet was identified as the Endeavor Air 5501.

The incident at RDU followed a plow that overturned on a snow-covered road in Moore County.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office also issued a warning just after 9 p.m. that roads throughout the county were covered in snow and “getting slippery.”

Up to 5 inches of snow is forecast to fall in central North Carolina late Friday and early Saturday.