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Jet Skids Off Runway At Van Nuys Airport

VAN NUYS (AP) — A twin-engine jet plane aborted a takeoff and skidded off a runway at Van Nuys Airport on Friday but the three people aboard escaped injury, authorities said.

The Mexican-registered Falcon jet was taking off from the San Fernando Valley airport on a flight to Tucson, Ariz., when it aborted the flight at about 1:15 p.m., said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

 

The plane stopped about 75 feet off the end of a runway in a runway safety area, he said.

Televised reports showed black skid marks leading from halfway down the runway into the dirt safety area.

Three people aboard the plane were unhurt, airport spokeswoman Diana Sanchez said.

KNX: Jet Aborts Takeoff At Van Nuys Airport, Skidding Off Runway

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The accident closed the airport's only functioning runway until the plane could be moved, Sanchez said. A second runway already was closed for construction.

The cause of the accident remained under investigation.

It was not immediately clear who owned the plane. Men near the plane covered up its markings with what appeared to be plastic sheeting.

Van Nuys Airport is heavily used by private, corporate and government aircraft.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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