Regional flight skids off runway at Bush Airport: 'We have an emergency'

An intrastate United Airlines flight landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on Wednesday (May 11) only to skid off the runaway, according to reports from Houston-based media outlets. 

The flight, SkyWest Airlines 5069 operating as United Express, flew to Houston from Victoria Regional Airport with 16 passengers, according to a company issued statement.

IAH's official Twitter account said the CRJ-200 aircraft ran off runway 8R.

The incident prompted the closure of the runaway, but the terminals and other runways remained operational, according to Houston's main airport.

Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that the plane was an early arrival.

According to SkyWest, the pilot dealt with a steering issue just before the aircraft ran off the runway, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

“We have an emergency," the unidentified pilot relayed to the IAH control tower, per KHOU. "United Express aircraft here off the runway."

The station reported that the pilot told the tower that "the passengers are fine in the back."

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that the plane stopped in a grassy field near a construction site.

"There were no reported injuries and we bused our customers to the terminal," United and SkyWest said in the statement. "Our maintenance team will fully inspect the aircraft."