A plane carrying Michiganâs basketball team and the traveling party crashed on Wednesday during an aborted takeoff attempt in high winds. According to the school, everyone on board has evacuated safely and they are working on other travel plans to get to the Big Ten tournament in Washington, D.C.
âThe Michigan menâs basketball team plane was involved in an accident Wednesday afternoon,â the school announced in a statement. âAfter attempting to take off in high winds, takeoff was aborted and, after strong braking, the plane slid off the runway. The plane sustained extensive damage but everyone on board was safely evacuated and is safe.
âThe team is making alternate travel plans.â
Our team and everyone in our travel party is safe. Update on today's travel accident.
— Michigan Basketball (@umichbball) March 8, 2017
Thanks for your well wishes! #GoBlue 〽 pic.twitter.com/CJfrr5ONEJ
One photo from play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard shows some of the damage to the plane and the slide extending from the exit door.
Scary attempt to get to DC but everyone is alright pic.twitter.com/gC4nJBxUDw
— Matt Shepard (@ShepMatt) March 8, 2017
Scariest moment of my life but weâre all good,â manager Tyler Davis wrote on Twitter, adding a video from outside the plane.
Scariest moment of my life but we're all good. #GoBluepic.twitter.com/3GGd2Rw5no
— Tyler Davis (@tylerjdavis2) March 8, 2017
Michigan is scheduled to open Big Ten tournament play on Thursday against Illinois.