Spokane Reopens After Plane Slides Off Taxiway

January 5, 2016

Spokane Airport in Washington state has reopened after a United Airlines Boeing 737 slid off a taxiway, forcing a nearly three-hour shutdown.

No injuries were reported and the airport reopened for flight operations at 8:45 local time as workers sought "to assure adequate braking conditions have been established," officials said on Twitter.

United flight UA812, bound for Denver, slid off the south end of the holding area of Taxiway A at about 6 am, according to officials.

Airport officials said all passengers aboard the flight were taken back to the terminal. Authorities continued to work with United "to reposition the aircraft back on the hard surface."

Icy conditions made the task more difficult, local media reported.

United Airlines spokeswoman Karen May said 166 passengers and seven crew were on board the plane.

"The plane was on the taxiway when it seems like it may have hit some icy conditions that caused the nose wheels to slip... Everyone is safe," May said.

(Reuters)