Plane slides off runway at Saskatoon airport

Freezing rain caused a near-dangerous incident at Saskatoon’s John G. Diefenbaker airport Friday morning, delaying one dad’s start to his Christmas break in the U.S.

A Delta Airlines plane bound for Minneapolis, Minn. and operated by SkyWest slid off the runway prior to take-off, leaving its passengers stranded.

Scott Jenkins, his wife and two kids were on the first leg of their trip to see family in Kansas City, Mo. The plane, flight DL-4811, was originally slated for a 6:15 a.m. take off.

“You kind of had to look outside to see what actually happened. There was no violent force or anything. It was just you slid, you see a bunch of snow, and you’re like, ‘well we went off the runway,'” he said.

Airport emergency crews responded right away.

“They started shovelling the ditch. I think they were trying to pull the plane out with us in it,” Jenkins said. “Then they decided it wasn’t going to work, so they brought buses out. We unloaded right on the runway, and they brought us back.”

That was at about 8 a.m.

Despite the delay, Jenkins said he’s glad he and his kids are OK.

Officials with the Saskatoon Airport Authority said none of the 74 people on board were injured.

At about 10 a.m., Delta sent an emailed statement about the release.

“While taxiing for departure, SkyWest flight 4811, operating as Delta Connection from Saskatoon, Canada to Minneapolis, partially left the taxiway,” the statement said.

“Customers deplaned normally through the main cabin door and were transported back to the terminal by bus. We are working to help customers safely resume their travels to Minneapolis as quickly as possible.”

The flight’s new departure time is now set for 3 p.m.

More to come.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Bryn Levy