All Passengers And Crew Evacuated Safely

A Southwest 737 getting ready to depart Baltimore/Washington International Airport (KBWI) bound for Jamaica Wednesday morning didn't get very far. It slid off a taxiway while preparing for departure.

The FAA confirmed the incident, according to a report from Fox News. Airport officials released a Tweet saying that the airplane had "stopped on taxiway pavement", but the FAA Tweeted that the airplane "slid sideways on a taxiway while preparing for departure at @BWI_Airport today at 10 a.m. It remained on the taxiway & will be towed to the gate. The passengers are being deplaned/bussed to the terminal. Contact the airline for info. FAA will investigate."

Passengers immediately took to social media, saying that the plane slid sideways into the grass next to the taxiway. One said that the pilot said that the plane had encountered an "icy spot" on the taxiway leading to the taxiway excursion.

Todd Miller, who was arriving at the airport for another flight, posted the photo shown here to Facebook, adding that emergency crews were "everywhere" around the plane.

Southwest airlines posted a statement that the passengers on board the aircraft were "accommodated on different aircraft" and were "scheduled to arrive in Montego Bay approximately three hours behind schedule."

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: Original report