After a thrilling victory against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers‘ charter flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Kansas City due to an engine issue. Fortunately, all passengers, including the players and staff, emerged unscathed, with their spirits intact despite the unexpected diversion.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, around 5:00 a.m. local time, as the team was en route to Pittsburgh. KDKA News, a Pittsburgh CBS affiliate, had two journalists on board, who reported the tense moments when the plane had to touch down in Kansas City. The root cause of the diversion was traced to a problem with the oil pressure in one of the engines. Thankfully, the team’s management swiftly organized a replacement plane to ensure the safe return of the Steelers to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers’ senior director of communications, Burt Lauten, acted promptly to reassure fans and well-wishers through social media, notably on X (formerly known as Twitter). Lauten posted, “Our team charter plane was unexpectedly diverted to Kansas City early this morning on our way back to Pittsburgh following our game in Las Vegas. Everyone on the plane is safe, and we are making necessary plans to arrive back in Pittsburgh later today.” The quick response from the Steelers’ organization helped alleviate concerns among supporters.
Amid the uncertainty and stress of an emergency landing, Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward lightened the mood with a humorous tweet. Drawing attention to the recent buzz surrounding pop sensation Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Heyward tweeted, “Yo @taylorswift13 & @tkelce we might need a ride to Pittsburgh.” This playful remark alluded to Swift’s presence at a Chiefs game, where she watched from Kelce’s private suite.
Heyward didn’t stop there, adding a touch of sarcasm by suggesting that the emergency landing might have been triggered by a questionable call against safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the game. He quipped, “Dang emergency landing in KC. I think it’s due to @minkfitz_21 ‘roughing the passer call’ but seriously landing KC……….”
As reported by NBC News, the Steelers were granted a well-deserved day off by their head coach, Mike Tomlin, following the unexpected ordeal. The team will soon resume its regular schedule, with their next game scheduled for October 1st against the Houston Texans in Houston.