Delta Boeing 717 sends towering snow plume across runway during winter takeoff at Rochester airport

Rochester, New York – A routine winter departure at Rochester International Airport in the United States turned into a jaw-dropping scene this week, as a Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 powered down a snow-covered runway and unleashed what viewers quickly dubbed a “snow blast.” Captured on video during extreme cold and near whiteout conditions, the moment has spread rapidly across social media, drawing attention far beyond Western New York and highlighting both the raw power of jet engines and the persistence of airline operations in harsh winter weather.

The viral clip was recorded at Rochester International Airport, USA, during a heavy snowstorm that had already blanketed the airfield. As the Boeing 717 accelerated for takeoff, its rear-mounted engines churned through loose powder lining the runway. In seconds, a towering plume of snow rose into the air, swirling into a dense, wind-driven curtain that briefly swallowed the aircraft from view. The jet reappeared moments later, lifting off and climbing into low clouds, leaving behind a runway transformed into a roiling white cloud.

Shared by local aviation spotter @joey_frascati, the footage was filmed on January 15, 2026 in Rochester, USA. Viewers can see the aircraft gaining speed as the engines spool up, the exhaust interacting with freshly fallen snow and blasting it skyward. The result looks almost cinematic, a rolling wave of white that races outward from the jet’s path. For many watching online, it was a striking reminder of how much thrust is required to lift a commercial airliner into the air, especially in frigid conditions.

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The Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 sits at the center of the video, but the scene reflects much more than a single dramatic moment. Rochester, New York, United States was deep in the grip of a powerful winter storm that day. Snow and wind combined to reduce visibility across the airport, coating runways, taxiways and ramps in fresh accumulation. Despite the conditions, air traffic did not grind to a halt. Aircraft continued to taxi, line up and depart, even as the airport resembled a snow globe shaken by strong gusts.

Additional footage recorded in Rochester, United States on January 15 shows planes taking off through blinding snow, their navigation lights glowing faintly as they disappear into the low cloud deck moments after rotation. The runway appears more like a snow-covered road than a precision-engineered strip of pavement, yet departures continue with steady determination. These scenes frame the 717’s “snow blast” not as an isolated spectacle, but as part of a broader effort to keep flights moving during a severe winter event.

The power displayed in the viral clip comes from the Boeing 717’s twin rear-mounted engines, which sit near the tail and direct their exhaust backward at high velocity. When that exhaust meets loose, powdery snow along the runway shoulders, it can lift and scatter it violently. In cold air, engines can also produce more thrust, intensifying the effect. The result, seen clearly in the Rochester footage, is a dense wall of snow that surges outward and briefly hides the aircraft from view.

What viewers do not see in those few dramatic seconds is the extensive preparation that makes such departures possible. Long before a jet lines up on a snow-covered runway, ground crews work continuously to clear surfaces and prepare aircraft. Video recorded by Joseph Frascati in Rochester, United States shows de-icing crews racing the clock as winter tightens its grip. Trucks circle aircraft, spraying heated fluid across wings and tail surfaces to remove ice and prevent new buildup that could affect lift or control.

These operations are especially critical in extreme cold, when snow can stick quickly and refreeze. De-icing must be carefully timed so that an aircraft can taxi and take off within a safe window before fresh accumulation forms. At the same time, plows and blowers work to keep taxiways and runways usable, often operating almost nonstop during heavy storms. The dramatic Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 snow blast can be seen as the visible tip of this iceberg of preparation, the final moment that follows hours of coordinated work on the ground.

Another clip from January 15, 2026 in Rochester, New York, United States shows the airport under a blanket of heavy snow while aircraft continue to move. Snow sweeps across the field, visibility drops, and yet jets still roll, line up and depart. The footage underscores how winter operations rely on a constant balance of clearing, treating and monitoring conditions, with air traffic control, pilots and ground crews working together to keep flights on schedule as much as possible.

The same storm system that produced the viral “snow blast,” however, also revealed the risks of operating in such unforgiving weather. On January 15, 2026, an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 with about 90 people onboard partially left the taxiway at Rochester’s airport while preparing for departure. The incident occurred amid snow and freezing temperatures that had already complicated ground movements across the airfield.

According to information shared on social media and further reporting, American Airlines flight 3057 experienced an issue during takeoff in Rochester, N.Y. on Thursday, Jan. 15, with the aircraft veering off the paved surface. The event took place against the same winter backdrop that produced the visually stunning Delta departure. While no injuries were reported, the incident served as a reminder that even with extensive plowing and de-icing, traction and visibility can deteriorate quickly when snow continues to fall and temperatures remain low.

The contrast between the two moments is striking. On one hand, the Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 snow blast shows a controlled, powerful departure, engines carving a path through snow as the aircraft lifts cleanly into the stormy sky. On the other, the American Airlines episode highlights how thin the margin can be when winter weather pushes equipment, crews and surfaces to their limits. Together, they paint a fuller picture of what it takes to operate an airport during a severe snowstorm.

The Rochester clip has resonated widely because it compresses this complexity into a few unforgettable seconds. The image of a jet accelerating through swirling white powder captures both the drama and the resilience of air travel in harsh climates. For passengers, it reflects the hope that flights will still depart despite the weather. For aviation enthusiasts, it showcases the sheer force of modern jet engines interacting with nature.

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Shared across multiple platforms, the video from @joey_frascati has been viewed and reposted countless times, often accompanied by amazement at the visuals. The Delta Air Lines Boeing 717, briefly swallowed by its own snow cloud, becomes a symbol of winter aviation itself, powerful, determined and operating on the edge of what conditions allow.

In the end, the “snow blast” at Rochester International Airport, USA is more than a viral moment. It is a snapshot of a larger story playing out every winter at airports across northern regions. Behind each dramatic takeoff lies a network of planning, labor and expertise, all working to keep planes moving when snow, wind and cold try to shut them down. The Rochester footage simply makes that invisible effort visible, in a swirling wall of snow that the internet will not soon forget.