A United Express airplane went off the runway when it tried to land on Wednesday afternoon in Ottawa. (CBC)Three people were injured Wednesday when a United Express plane carrying 36 people went off a wet runway at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

The Embraer 145, listed as United Airlines Flight 8050, was trying to land around 3 p.m. ET when the accident occurred, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which is investigating. There were 33 passengers and three crew members on the plane, according to police and the airport authority.

The aircraft is part of the airline's United Express service, operated by various regional carriers, and carried passengers from Dallas and Washington.

Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesman J. P. Trottier confirmed that the pilot, 48, and an elderly female passenger suffered minor neck injuries, and the 31-year-old co-pilot suffered a minor leg injury. All three were sent to hospital, where they were listed in stable condition.

Stephanie Nicholds, a volunteer for CYOW Airport Watch, was on the other side of the runway at the time of the accident, monitoring radio communications between the pilot and the air traffic control tower.

'I've got no traction'

"The pilot was saying, 'I'm going off the edge, I've got no traction,'" Nicholds said. "He was hydroplaning down the runway, and all of a sudden the airplane just ditched into the grass."

Environment Canada reported that there had been light rain at the airport starting at 11 a.m. and continuing through the afternoon.

Passenger Alyssa Edwards said the flight started to get 'turbulent' as the plane hit the runway. (CBC)No fire broke out when the plane came to a stop, Nicholds said. However, fire crews stood by for several hours just in case.

The CBC's Cory O'Kelly reported from the scene that the plane came to rest nose down, just inside the fence at the airport perimeter. Debris from some of its parts was strewn behind it, and dozens of emergency vehicles were parked nearby.

Firefighter Eric Marshall said just before the plane went off the end of the runway, the pilot reported hitting the brakes, but was unable to stop. He said it's possible the plane landed too far down the runway or the pilot hit the brakes too late, given the runway conditions. It is believed the front wheel came off the plane, but the pilot managed to control the aircraft.

Alyssa Edwards of Florida was on board the flight, heading to Ottawa to visit relatives. She said it started to get a little "turbulent" as they hit the runway.

"I looked out the window, and I saw something fly by," she said. "And then by that time, we were off the runway. You just heard people yelling. I hit my head off the seat and then the flight attendants started yelling for everyone to get off."

The plane was evacuated without incident, she added.

Passengers were transported to the main terminal on OC Transpo buses.

Paul Benoit, president and CEO of Ottawa Airport Authority, said the runway where the plane was trying to land was shut down after the incident. An inspection found no debris on its surface. The crash had no impact on other flights, Benoit added, as another, longer runway remained in use.

He estimated the Transportation Safety Board's investigation could take six months to a year to come to a conclusion.