Incoming Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan On Plane That Skidded Off Airport Runway
BURKE, Texas (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Frightening moments for the presumptive incoming Texas House speaker after a plane he was traveling on skidded off a runway while trying to land during a rainstorm.
No one was hurt with the private plane carrying State Rep. Dade Phelan veered off the tarmac.
The plane was landing Wednesday at Angelina County Airport, about 110 miles northeast of Houston. Phelan told CBS-affiliate TV station KFDM that it was raining and "conditions were difficult" at the time.
"We went through the end of the runway, across a street, and stopped in a pasture," he said. "We all walked away. It was an unfortunate accident. The plane was in bad shape."
Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, has said he has the votes to be Texas' next House speaker and he has drawn the support of GOP Gov. Greg Abbott.
Airport manager Gary Letney told Lufkin TV station KTRE that the pilot suffered minor injuries but was able to walk around afterward.
"In talking to the pilot, he said that when he landed the anti-lock brakes failed on the jet and so he cut them off and cut them back on, and when he did he had no brakes at all," Letney said.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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