The Delta Air Lines Flight 8860, an older-model Boeing 767, transporting the Carolina Panthers football team back from their preseason game against the New England Patriots, which ended with a score of 17-3, veered off the runway 36R, located closest to the Billy Graham Parkway, at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina at approximately 2:35 am today.
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football franchise located in Charlotte, North Carolina. They participate in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The team’s operations are centered at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte, which also functions as their home venue.
According to news reports and Instagram updates, all passengers from Delta Flight 8860 have calmly evacuated the aircraft through an emergency exit, after the part of the plane rolled off the runway and got stuck in the mud.
A representative for the Carolina Panthers verified that the Delta Air Lines flight was a charter booked to transport the team players and staff. Both airport and team representatives also confirmed that there were no injuries reported in the accident.
After the passengers were disembarked from the aircraft, it took approximately one hour for a bus to transport the team back to Wilson Air Center that functions as a terminal for numerous chartered or private flights.
After airport emergency teams were done assisting the crew and the passengers, Delta successfully towed the aircraft from the runway.
According to the representative from the airport, repair work was conducted on the affected area, and the taxiway was reopened around 6:30 am. Both the airfield lighting and the taxiway were functioning properly, Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s rep added.
“The right main gear of Delta 8860 exited the taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport following a normal arrival. No injuries were reported by the 188 customers who are deplaning and being bused to the terminal. We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” Delta Air Lines said in the press statement issued mid-morning.
According to the airline, DL8850 was en route from Providence, Rhode Island, to Charlotte, with a total of 188 passengers on board at the time of the incident.
