Plane carrying NBA team makes emergency landing

A charter flight carrying the Utah Jazz NBA team, including Australian star Joe Ingles, was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday (local time). The Delta flight, travelling from Salt Lake City (SLC/KSLC) to Memphis (MEM/KMEM) was forced to return to Salt Lake City airport after an engine was damaged when the plane struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff. The charter flight was carrying the Jazz for a game on Wednesday against the Grizzlies. "Fortunately the plane landed safely," a Jazz representative told USA Today. "Everybody is shaken, but they're okay." Delta later provided a statement confirming the incident, without acknowledging that it was a Jazz charter flight. Delta noted that it was working on finding another aircraft for its "customers." "As the aircraft was taking off it hit a flock of birds," the statement read. "The left engine was shut down, the pilot declared an emergency in return to Salt Lake International Airport. "Aircraft landed without incident and was able to taxi back. "Delta Airlines is working hard on finding another aircraft to get their customers to their destinations."

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Aircraft Information:

Airline: Delta Airlines

Code: DL/DAL

Aircraft: Boeing 757-232

Registration: N651DL

Serial Number: 24391

Engines: 2 x PW PW2037

First Flew: 05/07/1989

Age: 31.7 Yrs