Shortly after takeoff on Tuesday afternoon, the Utah Jazz’s charter flight to Memphis, Tennessee, sustained engine damage and was rerouted back to Salt Lake City International Airport.
Team sources confirmed that Delta Flight 8944, which was taking the Jazz to Memphis, where they are scheduled to play the Grizzlies on Wednesday night, struck a flock of birds during takeoff. The left engine of the plane was damaged and the flight crew immediately returned to the Salt Lake airport.
The plane landed without further incident.
While everyone aboard is safe, the experience has the team shaken up and thankful to be back on the ground.
Nearly the entire team posted to social media after the flight landed.
The Jazz are now scheduled to leave Salt Lake Airport at 7:35 p.m. MST.