Delta Flight Carrying Carolina Panthers Players Skids Off Taxiway

A Delta Airlines flight reportedly carrying Carolina Panthers NFL players suffered a scary landing early Friday morning when it skidded off the taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. But thankfully, no one was injured in the mishap.

The team had been returning home from from Providence, RI following a preseason game against the New England Patriots on Thursday evening when the incident occurred. According to WCNC-TV News, Delta Flight 8860 was carrying a total of 188 passengers when it landed around 2:35 a.m. and ran off the taxiway closest to the nearby Billy Graham Parkway and into mud.

Passengers were deplaned safely shortly after landing and taken to Wilson Air Center; there were no injuries reported. Witnesses reported seeing an unknown number of Carolina Panthers teammates on the flight.

"The right main gear of Delta 8860 exited the taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport following a normal arrival," Delta Airlines said in a statement after the incident. "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."

To add insult to injury, the Panthers were walloped by the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, getting beat by 17–3 even with the team playing their first game in 24 years without Bill Belichick as coach. It was the first game that the Patriots had played without Belichick since Jan. 2, 2000, who led the team to six Super Bowl championship titles alongside Tom Brady in the franchise's dynasty from 2001 to 2019.