Utah Jazz Flight Returns to Salt Lake Airport After Bird Strike

Bird strike forces flight carrying Utah Jazz players back to Salt Lake City International Airport

The Utah Jazz take instruction from Head Coach Quin Snyder during a timeout

Only a few minutes into the Utah Jazz chartered flight to Memphis, Tennessee, a flock of birds collided with the engine of the plane, forcing them to return to Salt Lake City International Airport. They were headed to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies for the third time in four games.

The Athletic's Tony Jones gave insight to the incident with a tweet that said, "A few details about the Jazz charter which had to return to SLC airport after hitting birds." Jones continued. "The incident happened 5-10 min after takeoff. A loud noise was heard at time of the incident. Team personnel has been sent home while another plane is made available."

The flight took off from Salt Lake City International Airport at 1:15pm MST and returned to the airport at 1:31pm MST. Wasatch Sky Watch posted the details of the plane and return of the chartered flight on twitter.

Utah Jazz charter returning to SLC shortly after takeoff pic.twitter.com/5S8ggp5IB7

— Wasatch Sky Watcher (@WasatchSkyWatch) March 30, 2021

Multiple Utah Jazz players took to Twitter following the incident, including Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Royce O'Neale, Jordan Clarkson, and more. 

🙏🏾

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 30, 2021

It’s a beautiful day!

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) March 30, 2021

🙌🏾

— Mike Conley (@mconley11) March 30, 2021

GOD is good 🙏🏾🙏🏾

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

All players and personnel are reported to be safe. The Jazz are still scheduled to take on the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow night at 6pm MST at FedEx Forum in Tennessee.

UPDATE: 

It looks as though the Utah Jazz flight has been rescheduled and will take off at 7:35pm MST from Salt Lake City International Airport.

Rescheduled yet again. pic.twitter.com/sAmTLCk6f4

— Ken Clayton (@k_clayt) March 30, 2021

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