Steelers' team plane forced to make emergency landing on way home from Las Vegas
Just hours after their narrow win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Pittsburgh Steelers had another close call on their way home, as their team plane was forced to make an emergency landing early Monday morning in Kansas City -- where the team is awaiting a new flight to Pittsburgh.
The Delta Airlines charter from Las Vegas to Pittsburgh touched down at Kansas City International Airport at 3:57 a.m. CT. A person on the plane told Pittsburgh TV station WTAE an oil pressure light went off, prompting the plane to land.
The unexpected landing was confirmed on social media by Steelers communications director Burt Lauten, who noted that everyone on the plane is safe and plans are in the works to have the team arrive in Pittsburgh later Monday morning.
The Kansas City Aviation Department said the 182 passengers and crew were to remain on their original plane until a replacement was expected to arrive around 9:30 a.m. CT.
News photographer Ian Smith of Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV reports that one of the plane's engines sustained some damage during the original flight. He also said the team, staff and media members who were aboard have deplaned and are getting ready to board a new flight to Pittsburgh.
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Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward joked on X that he thought the emergency landing was due to teammate Minkah FItzpatrick's controversial roughing the passer call. Then he tagged Sunday's celebrity couple − Taylor Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce − suggesting the Steelers "might need a ride to Pittsburgh."
On Sunday night, the Steelers defeated the Raiders 23-18 to improve their record to 2-1 on the season heading into a Week 4 matchup at Houston.