Chicago — A Delta Air Lines charter flight carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder from Minneapolis to Chicago sustained damage early Saturday during landing, reportedly due to a bird strike. Photos shared by players on social media revealed the plane’s caved-in nose, though no injuries were reported.
The incident occurred around 12:45 a.m., as the Thunder prepared for their Saturday night game against the Chicago Bulls.
Thunder star Russell Westbrook reflected on the close call, saying, “You never take anything for granted. Just be thankful and blessed we were able to land the plane and everything was OK. Seeing stuff like that just shows you how you need to cherish life, understand the important things, and embrace every moment.”
Teammates Carmelo Anthony, Josh Huestis, and Steven Adams took to social media to share their experiences:
- Anthony posted on Instagram: “What possibly could we have hit in the SKY at this time of night? Everyone is Safe, Though.”
- Adams tweeted: “We had a rough flight to say the least.”
- Huestis shared on Twitter: “I guess we hit something? 30,000 feet up…”
Despite the unnerving experience, the Thunder expressed gratitude for their safety and readiness to focus on their upcoming game.
Delta Airlines spokeswoman Elizabeth Wolf confirmed that maintenance crews were assessing damage to a Boeing 757-200 after an apparent bird strike during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s flight to Chicago. The plane landed safely at Chicago’s Midway International Airport without incident.
“Must’ve been a pretty big bird — a Pterodactyl maybe,” joked Thunder forward Nick Collison.
Collison recalled watching the show Stranger Things when he felt the plane briefly drop, describing the sensation as similar to a “roller-coaster.”
Russell Westbrook reflected on the unsettling experience, saying, “It’s one of those moments you bow your head and thank the man above.”
Coach Billy Donovan explained that the turbulence occurred about halfway through the flight. “The plane dropped a little bit,” he said. “Then they told us they were trying to get to a lower altitude because they might have been concerned about cabin pressure. We landed safely. Thank God everybody was safe.”
The Thunder had played the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier that evening, narrowly losing 119-116, before their eventful flight to Chicago.
