Michigan Basketball Team Plane Slides off Runway Due to High Winds
The University of Michigan men basketball’s team was involved in a plane accident on its way to Washington, D.C. for the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday. The plane attempted to take off from the Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan Wednesday afternoon. However, high winds in the region caused the pilot to abort take off, and after strong braking, the plane slid off the runway.
In a statement posted on social media, the team said that “our team and everyone in our travel party is safe.”
Our team and everyone in our travel party is safe. Update on today’s travel accident.
Thanks for your well wishes! #GoBlue 〽 pic.twitter.com/CJfrr5ONEJ
— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) March 8, 2017
The plane sustained “extensive damage,” but everyone on board was able to exit safely with no injuries reported, the school said. The head manager for the men’s basketball team tweeted, “scariest moment of my life but we’re all good.”
Scariest moment of my life but we’re all good. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/3GGd2Rw5no
— Tyler Davis (@tylerjdavis2) March 8, 2017
The team is now making alternate travel plans to play in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The Wolverines are set to play the Illinois Fighting Illini at noon Thursday.
–Story Image: Matt Shepard