Panthers' Flight Returns Safely to Charlotte
- The Panthers' plane successfully landed in Charlotte with 188 passengers on board.
- No injuries were reported during the incident, ensuring the safety of all involved.
- The return flight marked a safe conclusion to their trip.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers experienced a minor incident early Friday morning when their team charter ran off the taxiway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after returning from a preseason game in New England. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 188 passengers on board, who were bused to the terminal following the incident. The mishap occurred amid heavy rainfall in the area, as Tropical Storm Debby brought four inches of rain to Charlotte on Thursday. Passengers were largely unaware of the situation until they noticed emergency personnel outside the Delta aircraft, which had become stuck in the mud. Most players and staff were asleep during the landing around 2:30 a.m. ET and expressed no concerns for their safety. Veteran safety Xavier Woods humorously responded to the incident on social media, asking for “vouchers.” A spokesperson for the Charlotte airport confirmed that airfield lighting and the taxiway were fully operational at the time of the incident. Emergency crews responded promptly, and Delta Airlines towed the aircraft off the movement area shortly after 5:30 a.m. The taxiway was reopened by approximately 6:30 a.m. On the field, the Panthers faced a tough loss against the New England Patriots, falling 17-3 in their first preseason game. With starting quarterback Bryce Young and several other players sidelined, the team is set to return to practice on Saturday before hosting the New York Jets in their next exhibition on August 17.