Jazz team flight to Memphis derailed by birds

FILE: Team sources confirmed that Delta Flight 8944, which was taking the Utah Jazz to Memphis, where they are scheduled to play the Grizzlies on Wednesday night, struck a flock of birds during takeoff. The left engine of the plane was damaged and the flight crew immediately returned to the Salt Lake airport. The plane landed without further incident. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Shortly after takeoff on Tuesday afternoon, the Utah Jazz’s charter flight to Memphis, Tennessee, sustained engine damage and was rerouted back to Salt Lake City International Airport.

Here’s a look from @KSLChopper5 at fire crews escorting a Delta 757 across @slcairport. We don’t have a ton of info yet, but @flightradar24 shows the flight taking off and immediately returning to land. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/vL48pe4qPw

— Sean Moody (@SeanMoodyPhoto) March 30, 2021

Team sources confirmed that Delta Flight 8944, which was taking the Jazz to Memphis, where they are scheduled to play the Grizzlies on Wednesday night, struck a flock of birds during takeoff. The left engine of the plane was damaged and the flight crew immediately returned to the Salt Lake airport.

The plane landed without further incident.

While everyone aboard is safe, the experience has the team shaken up and thankful to be back on the ground.

Nearly the entire team posted to social media after the flight landed.

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 30, 2021

GOD is good

— Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) March 30, 2021

It’s a beautiful day!

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) March 30, 2021

There was no immediate word on when the Jazz would be able to secure another charter flight to Memphis.

This story will be updated.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3m5L2bm