Vikings Charter Flight to Newark Returned to MSP

The Vikings’ flight to Newark, N.J., returned to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport less than an hour after takeoff on Saturday afternoon because of a mechanical issue with the plane.

A team spokesman initially said the Vikings were boarding a new plane for Newark shortly before 5 p.m. However, a little before 6 p.m., the Vikings said the were still awaiting the arrival of a second plane and still intended to depart Saturday night.

The team eventually left MSP a second time at 7:43 p.m., with an expected arrival at at Newark just before 11 p.m. Eastern.

According to data from Flight Radar, the first plane turned around just southwest of Madison, Wis., at 2:05 p.m., and landed back at MSP at 3:04.

While crews attended to the plane, the team deplaned to switch to a different charter jet.

“Shortly after departing, the team plane experienced mechanical issues that required a return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport,” the Vikings said in a statement shortly before 4 p.m. “The team will board a second plane momentarily and is expected to arrive at Newark International Airport later tonight.”

Travel glitches happen infrequently for teams taking charter flights for road games, but they aren’t unprecedented. Before their 2016 game in at Green Bay, the Vikings had to depart their plane in Appleton, Wis., by a cherry picker after the plane slid several feet off the runway and got lodged in wet grass following touchdown.

The Vikings lost to the Packers the following day, and were eliminated from the playoff race.

STRIB