Life-saving runway tech saves dozens in Virginia plane incident

Life-saving runway tech saves dozens in Virginia plane incident

A United flight from Dulles faced a close call after overshooting the runway at Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport, but a newly installed safety zone prevented disaster. FOX 5 DC's Tisha Lewis has the latest.

ROANOKE, VA. - A United flight from Dulles faced a close call after overshooting the runway at Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport, but a newly installed safety zone prevented disaster.

Plane stops due to runway safety technology

What we know:

Newly released pictures from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show the plane was stopped by crushable concrete safety at the end of the runway. The Engineering Materials Arresting System (EMAS) acted like a truck exit ramp, halting the aircraft safely.

Passengers deplaned using portable stairs onto the EMAS bed and were bussed back to the terminal.

"The aircraft rolled into the EMAS…passengers got out safely," Richard Levy, an aviation expert, told FOX 5 DC. 

Technology availability at other airports

The life-saving runway technology is available at Reagan International Airport but not at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) or Dulles. The FAA is currently investigating the incident.

"Anything is a risk these days, not just flying, driving, taking the train, it’s just life…it is what it is," Michelle Monteith, a traveler, said. 

What we don't know:

It remains unclear why the plane malfunctioned at Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport.