United Express flight 3363 from Chicago slipped off the runway at the Ottawa Airport at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday as it landed during heavy rain.

The 44 people on board were uninjured, according to airport spokesman Paul Benoit.

Police and firefighters were at the site of the crash.

Rhonda Purvis, who was waiting for her son to arrive on the flight, said that after waiting nearly 45 minutes she began to worry. An airport official rounded up family and friends waiting for passengers to arrive and told them there had been a problem landing but everyone on board was OK.

The airport sent an OC Transpo bus to bring the passengers inside the airport but they were forced to leave all their possessions on the plane. Purvis said it could be a few hours before they would be able to get their things off the plane and through customs.

Just before 5 p.m., Benoit said the passengers were being debriefed.

People who were watching the flight land from inside the airport’s third-floor window, said the plane disappeared into a sheath of rain and pivoted 180 degrees, landing off the runway.

More to come .....



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