Plane Skids Off Runway At John Wayne Airport

NEWPORT BEACH, CA -Commercial flights were delayed Thursday when a small, private plane skidded off a runway at John Wayne Airport. No injuries were reported.

The plane, a single-engine Piper Malibu, skidded off the runway around 12:50 p.m.

The plane's nosegear was sheared off "and it landed in the grassy area between our two runways in what we call the safety area," a JWA spokeswoman said.

A crane was needed to remove the plane.

Only one person is believed to have been aboard the plane, but was not injured. It was unclear if rain played a factor in the mishap, or if the plane was taking off or landing when it left the runway.

One runway was closed while the plane was removed, resulting in an unknown number of flight delays.

The runway reopened at about 2:10 p.m., according to the airport.