Des Moines Airport Closed After Delta Flight 5087 Slides Off Runway in Major Iowa Snowstorm

Published November 30, 2025

Des Moines International Airport (DSM) remained shut to air traffic on Sunday after a Delta Connection flight arriving from Detroit slid off a snow-covered runway during a powerful post‑Thanksgiving winter storm, forcing the evacuation of everyone on board and disrupting travel across central Iowa. Authorities say no injuries have been reported among passengers or crew. ^[1]

What happened to Delta Flight 5087?

According to airport officials and multiple local outlets, the incident involved Delta Flight 5087, a regional jet operating under the Delta Connection brand from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Des Moines. ^[2]

The aircraft, a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ‑900LR operated by Endeavor Air for Delta and registered as N298PQ, was landing on Runway 31 at DSM at around 10 p.m. local time on Saturday, November 29, when it failed to stay on the runway and came to a stop off the paved Runway surface amid blowing snow. ^[3]

Delta 5087 had departed Detroit at about 7:44 p.m. Eastern time, arriving in Iowa as a strong winter storm was dumping heavy snow and driving winds across much of the state, with temperatures in the 20s Fahrenheit and gusts over 30 mph reported in the Des Moines area. ^[4]

Early aviation posts and photos shared online show the CRJ‑900 beyond the end of the runway on snow‑covered ground, but still upright, with emergency crews surrounding the jet. ^[5]

All passengers evacuated safely, no injuries reported

Airport officials and local news organizations say that while the runway excursion was frightening for those on board, everyone walked away safely. Passengers were evacuated from the jet and transported by bus back to the terminal for processing. ^[6]

A summary of the incident carried by several outlets, including KCCI in Des Moines and international aggregators, notes that airport authorities confirmed all passengers and crew were evacuated and that no injuries were reported. ^[7]

In a brief statement referenced by Local 5/We Are Iowa, Delta said its teams at DSM were working to support affected customers after the incident involving Delta Connection Flight 5087 and that the airline was cooperating with local officials. ^[8]

Emergency responders quickly secured the aircraft and surrounding area, standard practice in any runway excursion to guard against fuel leaks, fire risks, and secondary incidents. Authorities have not yet detailed the extent of any damage to the jet, though at least one aviation outlet has described structural damage to the aircraft after it exceeded the runway limits and came to rest off the end of the pavement. ^[9]

Airport closure: DSM shut down pending NTSB clearance

Because the aircraft came to rest off the runway and remained on the airfield, Des Moines International Airport closed to air traffic following the incident. ^[10]

Sarah Hoodjer, a spokesperson for DSM, told NewsRadio 1040 WHO that the aircraft remained on pavement and would not be moved until it was formally released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is standard procedure for a runway excursion involving a commercial airliner. ^[11]

As of Sunday, November 30, FAA Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) list the Des Moines aerodrome as closed, with one notice—“DSM 11/185 DSM AD AP CLSD 2511300348‑2512020345”—indicating a closure beginning 03:48 UTC on November 30 and running into the early hours of December 2, 2025, unless canceled or superseded. A separate NOTAM, “DSM 11/186,” also shows a closure window during the day on Sunday. ^[12]

Online flight‑tracking and airport‑status tools likewise show DSM as closed to arriving and departing flights early Sunday, with pilots and airlines instructed to reference the current NOTAMs before operating into the airport. ^[13]

Airport officials have not provided a public timeline for when the airfield will reopen, stressing that the plane must remain where it is until investigators give permission to move it and that winter weather cleanup is ongoing. ^[14]

Flight diversions and broader travel disruption

The runway incident at Des Moines is magnifying an already difficult holiday travel weekend across the Midwest. A summary of the event on the Des Moines International Airport’s Wikipedia entry notes that three flights were diverted as a direct result of Flight 5087’s excursion, in addition to the numerous cancellations and delays linked to the storm and subsequent airfield closure. ^[15]

Nationwide, airlines have scrubbed or delayed thousands of flights as the post‑Thanksgiving winter storm swept through the upper Midwest and Great Lakes. By late Saturday, U.S. carriers had canceled nearly 1,900 flights and delayed more than 7,500, with Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, and Milwaukee among the hardest‑hit hubs—airports that have direct links to Des Moines and funnel connecting passengers to DSM. ^[16]

Travelers booked to or from Des Moines are being urged to:

Check their flight status directly with the airline or via the airport’s flight‑status page before leaving for the airport. ^[17]
Expect longer‑than‑normal hold times and limited rebooking options given the broader storm‑related disruptions across the region. ^[18]
Consider alternate nearby airports or ground transportation if their trip is time‑sensitive and DSM remains closed.

Brutal winter storm set the stage

Saturday’s runway excursion came as central Iowa was being hammered by a major early‑season winter storm. KCCI meteorologists report that parts of the Des Moines area received close to 10 inches of snow, with some Iowa locations seeing totals of 11–15 inches by Saturday night. ^[19]

A winter storm warning remained in effect for much of Iowa through 6 a.m. Sunday, with winds gusting 30–40 mph overnight. That combination of fresh snow and strong winds created blowing and drifting, severely reduced visibility, and extremely slick road conditions. ^[20]

State officials and meteorologists repeatedly advised against travel on key interstate corridors, including Interstate 35 north of Des Moines and Interstate 80 east of the city, as conditions deteriorated. By Saturday evening, the Iowa State Patrol reported more than 670 calls since midday Friday, including at least 182 crashes and dozens of additional motorist assists. ^[21]

Polk County’s extreme temperature plan is also being activated, with warming centers opening and transit agencies offering rides to help residents cope with dangerous wind chills expected to dip near or below zero degrees Fahrenheit. ^[22]

These severe conditions likely contributed to the challenging environment facing pilots and ground crews at DSM on Saturday night, though investigators have not yet released any findings about the specific causes of Flight 5087’s runway excursion.

What we know about the aircraft and airline response

Aviation tracking data and specialist accounts identify the aircraft as a CRJ‑900 regional jet, operated by Endeavor Air on behalf of Delta, carrying Delta flight number DL 5087 between Detroit and Des Moines. ^[23]

Social‑media posts from aviation tracking pages and enthusiasts show the aircraft off the end of Runway 31, and some accounts note that it may have come to rest in a shallow ditch, with visible damage to the nose area. ^[24] Officials at DSM, however, have not yet provided a detailed description of the damage, and there is no indication of fuel leakage or fire from the information released so far.

Delta has not issued a lengthy public statement, but a brief comment shared through local media says the airline’s teams at Des Moines are working to look after affected customers following the incident involving Delta Connection Flight 5087 and that it is coordinating with airport authorities. ^[25]

Investigation: NTSB will determine what went wrong

As with all significant incidents involving U.S. air carriers, the NTSB is expected to lead the investigation into the Des Moines runway excursion, working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Delta, Endeavor Air, and the Des Moines Airport Authority. ^[26]

Airport officials have emphasized that they are waiting on NTSB clearance before moving the aircraft, which is why the jet is still sitting on the airfield and why DSM’s closure notices remain in effect. ^[27]

Early write‑ups of the incident, including the updated Des Moines International Airport entry on Wikipedia, attribute the excursion to slick runway conditions following the winter storm, but investigators will ultimately analyze a broader range of factors. These can include braking performance, crosswind component at the time of landing, runway contamination, approach speed, crew decision‑making, and communication between pilots and air traffic control. ^[28]

Separately, Des Moines has been in the middle of a significant infrastructure upgrade program known as LiftDSM. The airport recently added centralized de‑icing pads designed to streamline winter operations and reduce delays during snow and ice events, with the project scheduled for completion in October 2025. It is not yet clear whether those new facilities were in use during Flight 5087’s arrival or played any role in the chain of events. ^[29]

The NTSB typically releases a preliminary report within several weeks of a major incident, followed by a more detailed final report that can take many months.

Key questions travelers are asking

Was anyone hurt when the plane slid off the runway?

Based on statements from airport officials and coverage by multiple local and regional outlets, there are no reported injuries among passengers or crew from Delta Flight 5087. Everyone on board was evacuated and taken back to the terminal. ^[30]

Is Des Moines International Airport still closed?

As of Sunday, November 30, 2025, FAA NOTAMs list DSM as closed to air traffic, with closures extending at least into early December 2 unless the notices are updated. Airport officials say there is currently no public timeline for reopening, and travelers should check directly with airlines and the airport for the latest information. ^[31]

What should I do if I’m flying through Des Moines?

If you’re scheduled to fly into or out of DSM:

Confirm your flight via your airline’s app, website, or customer‑service channels before traveling to the airport.
Use the Des Moines International Airport flight‑status page for an at‑a‑glance view of cancellations and diversions. ^[32]
If DSM is closed for your travel window, ask your airline about rebooking options, including connections through other Midwestern hubs that are still operating, bearing in mind that many of those airports are also recovering from the storm. ^[33]

What caused the accident?

Investigators have not yet issued any official findings. Early summaries point to slick runway conditions after a major snowstorm as a likely factor, but the NTSB will determine the probable cause only after reviewing flight data, cockpit voice recordings, weather information, and interviews with crew and controllers. ^[34]

Heavy Snow Buries Des Moines As Winter Storm Blasts Millions