A charter plane flying the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL team home from Las Vegas was forced to make an emergency landing in Kansas City after an oil pressure failure.
The flight took off from the Harry Reid International Airport at 9pm after a 23-18 win for the Steelers against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday night.
The Airbus A330-900 made an unexpected landing just around 4.29am in Kansas City after three hours and 40 minutes of flying. The oil pressure failure was located in one of the plane’s engines.
Fire trucks were at the scene to inspect the plane, as well as precautionary emergency responders.
No one was injured and everyone remained on the plane while it was being inspected, CBS reported.
The aircraft has 182 passengers and crew on board, according to Kansas City International Airport spokesperson Joe McBride.
Members of the KDKA news crew were also on the aircraft, confirming it was a Delta Air Lines flight 8867.
The Steelers’ senior director of communications made a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), saying they are doing what they can to allow the players to arrive back in Pittsburgh.
“Our team charter plane was unexpectedly diverted to Kansas City early this morning on our way back to Pittsburgh following our game in Las Vegas. Everyone on the plane is safe, and we are making necessary plans to arrive back in Pittsburgh later today,” he said.
Despite the emergency landing, the high-spirited players joked about their delayed journey— (Ian Smith/Twitter)
The Steelers’ defensive end Cam Heyward also took to X to joke about the emergency landing, saying they may have had to land due to the referees flagging All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick for “roughing the passer” during the Sunday night game.
He then tweeted Kansas City Chief’s tight end Travis Kelse and Taylor Swift, who are rumoured to be dating, asking for a ride.
It is currently unclear when the team can make their final stretch of the journey back to Pittsburgh to celebrate their win.
