A flight at the Syracuse airport Tuesday morning slightly went off the taxiway, airline and airport officials said. Shortly after 7:30 a.m., the nose gear of a Delta aircraft exited the paved surface of a taxiway, an airline representative said in an email.
There were no injuries reported and about 60 passengers on the LaGuardia-bound flight were deplaned by stairs and will be rebooked on later flights, a Delta spokesperson said.
“This was not an airplane skidding off a runway. There are no reported injuries. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” the spokesperson said.
A statement from the Syracuse Hancock International Airport said the aircraft was to be removed “from the grass.”
The airport also said a response team from the airline was en route.
"A Delta Air Lines aircraft recovery team specializing in responses of this nature is en route to SYR, with an expected arrival this evening," the statement said.
The incident occurred during a state of emergency in New York that went into effect Monday evening due to winter weather predicted for the state's central and eastern areas.
By Tuesday morning, up to 3.5 inches fell in parts of Onondaga County, according to the National Weather Service. But counties to the east, including the Capital Region, received 10 inches in some areas, while surrounding regions saw just more than a foot of snow, the agency reported.
The Greater Albany, Saratoga Springs and Lake George areas also experienced numerous power outages. National Grid reported Tuesday morning more than 42,000 people there were without power.
In Syracuse and the surrounding areas there has been little to no power outages reported, but snow accumulation is expected to intensify.
Forecasters predict up to 9 inches could accumulate in Syracuse during the day and an additional 3 inches could fall overnight.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the plane went off a taxiway, not a runway. A taxiway is where airplanes prepare for their flights or travel after landing. Runways are specifically for takeoffs and landings. This is part of a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.
