Plane slides off runway, skids across highway in Michigan City

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WLS) -- A small plane slid off a runway early Wednesday morning at an airport in northwest Indiana.

Michigan City firefighters, police and LaPorte County EMS responded around 6:45 a.m. to a report of a downed aircraft at Michigan City Municipal Airport - Phillips Field.

A twin engine jet had come to rest about 300 ft. into a field near US 20 and Highway 212, according to Tony Drzewiecki, public information officer for the Michigan City Fire Department.

The pilot and a passenger, the only people in the plane, had gotten themselves out safely, Drzewiecki said. The pilot overshot the runway while trying to land, hit a fence that borders US 20, skidded across the highway, took out a guard rail and slid into the field.

While the aircraft was heavily damaged, the pilot and passenger only suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

A Wind Chill Advisory was in effect when the incident occurred. It will be in effect for the Chicago area until 11 a.m. Wednesday. Wind chills are expected to be between -15 and -30. High temperatures will only reach around 10 degrees Wednesday.