Utah Jazz Forced To Make Emergency Landing After Team Plane Strikes A Bird

The Utah Jazz were forced to make an emergency landing while en route to Memphis on Tuesday. The team plane struck some birds while in mid-air, and the left engine shut down.

The Jazz team plane had to retreat back to Salt Lake City after the mishap, and luckily landed without any issues.

#DL8944, Salt Lake City-Memphis, returned to SLC shortly after takeoff with what appears to be a left engine issue. Playback is available at https://t.co/jIv9JWMHAZ

This Boeing 757-200 is powered by PW2037 engines. It's one of the dedicated charter 757s in Delta's fleet. https://t.co/cgtoTb2Eb8

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 30, 2021

While Delta Airlines currently says they’re working on getting the Jazz to Memphis by Wednesday, players on the team took to social media to share gratitude that the situation wasn’t any worse.

🙏🏾

— 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

The Utah Jazz are currently in first place in the Western Conference with an impressive 35-11 record.

Thankfully they avoided disaster during this plane ride gone wrong. As for the bird, I doubt it’s story concluded with the same happy ending. Pour one out.

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