14 DAY TRIAL // An American Eagle plane wandered off the runway at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport yesterday, during bad weather conditions.
The plane belongs to American Airlines, Fox News reports. Flight 4332 was returning to Chicago from New Orleans on Wednesday when the nose gear of the plane skidded.
The aircraft made a detour on the grass near the runway. The incident took place after landing and the pilot was battling heavy rainfall.
"We landed, and then as we were almost stopping, I guess all the rain and wind, we skidded off to the grass. But everybody was fine," passenger David Behm tells WLS Chicago.
A wheel went off the taxiway, reaching the edge. The pilot was flying an Embraer E175, and the aircraft was being operated by Republic Airlines.
"It was a little bit surprising. I don't usually see things like that when I'm taxiing in from a flight. . . It caught everyone's attention," commented Christina Clock, who was on a different flight. She saw the aircraft leave the tarmac.
According to a statement released by the airline, no injuries were reported on Flight 4332. The 38 passengers and four crew members aboard had a safe journey, and they were met by emergency crews at the scene.
"American Eagle Flight 4332 from New Orleans to Chicago, operated by Republic Airlines, landed normally and safely this morning at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. While taxiing to the terminal at O'Hare, the aircraft exited the taxiway and the nose gear of the plane ended up in the grass.
"The aircraft is an Embraer E175 with 38 passengers and a crew of four. No injuries were reported. Passengers are being bused to the terminal," the airline report reads.
Runway 27 was closed off until the matter was resolved and shuttle buses brought the passengers to the terminal. The incident prompted 16- to 30-minute delays for departing flights.