Early Friday morning brought unexpected turbulence for Carolina Panthers players and staff, not in the air but on the ground at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A Delta plane, specifically Flight 8860, went off the taxiway after successfully landing, according to a statement from the airline. The right main gear of the plane slipped into the mud, stranding the aircraft just before 3 a.m., ABC Affiliate WSOC reported.

The incident followed the Panthers' preseason game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The game ended in a 17-3 loss for the team, and the ensuing flight carried them back home to an unexpected off-field detour. There were 188 passengers on board, none of whom sustained injuries during the incident. The passengers were safely transported to the terminal by bus, a Delta representative confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.

At the scene, emergency vehicles greeted the plane, which had come to rest near the Billy Graham Parkway. Flight 8860 had landed on runway 36R, an area familiar to weary travelers now dotted with the flashing lights of response teams, WCNC Charlotte detailed. Witnesses at the scene identified the individuals on the aircraft as those affiliated with the Carolina Panthers.

Officials deemed the runway incident as minor, with no reported injuries and all passengers deplaned swiftly after the occurrence. The individuals were then taken to Wilson Air Center for further assistance. Despite the dramatic start to their Friday morning, it seems a crisis was averted, with Delta likely to face questions about the cause of the taxiway slide and procedures to prevent such incidents in the future.