Utah Jazz charter flight makes emergency landing after bird strike

SALT LAKE CITY — A plane with Utah Jazz team members on board made an emergency landing Tuesday afternoon after a bird strike.

Delta flight 8944 struck a flock of birds as it was taking off from Salt Lake City International Airport, according to a Delta spokesperson. The left engine was shut down, and the pilot made an emergency landing back at the airport without incident. No one on board was injured.

Spencer Joseph | FOX 13

The Boeing 757 was heading to Memphis, Tennessee, and the Utah Jazz have confirmed it was a charter flight with the team on board. The Jazz are scheduled to play the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night.

READ: Jazz run win streak to 6 games with 114-75 win over Cavs

The plane was towed to Delta's hangar for repairs, and the airline said they are working to find another plane to get the team to their destination. A timeline was not immediately given.

Some Jazz players expressed their gratitude after landing safely:

GOD is good 🙏🏾🙏🏾

— Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) March 30, 2021

🙌🏾

— Mike Conley (@MCONLEY10) March 30, 2021

🙏🏾

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 30, 2021

🙏🏽

— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) March 30, 2021

It’s a beautiful day!

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) March 30, 2021

This article was written by Spencer Burt for KSTU.