A Cessna Citation X skidded off the runway while landing at Telluride Regional Airport in Colorado on January 14, 2026, prompting the airport’s closure. All three people on board escaped without injury.
According to the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time as the business jet attempted to land at the high-elevation mountain airport. The pilot reported encountering a strong crosswind on touchdown, which caused the aircraft to lose directional control and slide about 900 feet off the runway.
A photo of the aftermath of the incident shows the Citation’s main landing gear collapsed in the snow and mud beside the runway. The aircraft, a 2007 Cessna Citation 750, also sustained damage to its left wing and nose wheel.
The two pilots and one passenger were able to exit the aircraft on their own. Emergency responders from Telluride Fire assessed the occupants at the scene, and no injuries were reported.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have launched an investigation into the incident. Airport officials closed the runway while investigators examined the aircraft and the landing environment.
Telluride Regional Airport sits at an elevation of more than 9,000 feet and is known for challenging operating conditions, particularly during winter. Mountain airports like Telluride combine thin air, steep terrain, short runways, and rapidly changing weather, all of which can complicate approaches and landings.
Strong and shifting winds are common in mountainous areas in Colorado, especially during colder months, when weather systems interact with surrounding terrain. Crosswinds, downdrafts, and windshear can develop without warning, leaving little margin for error during the landing phase of flight.
Despite those challenges, airports such as Telluride remain popular destinations for private aircraft. Their difficulty is also part of their appeal, offering access to remote resorts and ski destinations that are otherwise hard to reach. For operators and passengers alike, mountain airports often represent a trade-off between convenience and complexity.
