The Pittsburgh Steelers finally made it back to Pittsburgh.
A plane carrying the team, its coaches, staffers and selected media touched down in Pennsylvania just after 1 p.m. Monday, almost 14 hours after their game at the Las Vegas Raiders ended Sunday night.
A chartered plane that was transporting the team in the early morning hours Monday had to make an emergency landing in Kansas City, Mo. The team was stranded at Kansas City International Airport for several hours overnight.
No injuries were reported.
Steelers tackle Cam Heyward posted about the landing on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Dang emergency landing in KC.I think it's due to @minkfitz_21 "roughing the passer call" but seriously landing KC..........
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) September 25, 2023
The forced landing was because of an oil pressure light that came on during the flight, according to Tribune-Review news partner WTAE.
Can’t make this up ! https://t.co/gcKTLQR5IQ
— Kwon Alexander (@kwon) September 25, 2023
Steelers Senior Director of Communications Burt Lauten at 6:05 a.m. ET posted on X that the team made other plans to return to Pittsburgh. But more than four hours had passed before team personnel switched planes to one that had arrived from Atlanta, according to The Athletic.
The initial chartered flight touched down in Kansas City about 3:55 a.m.
Sorry you had to make an unscheduled touchdown in Kansas City, @Steelers. That will be the only one this year (not on the @Chiefs schedule). Post season: who knows? Fly safely. pic.twitter.com/KF17e3neN2
— Kansas City International Airport (@Fly_KansasCity) September 25, 2023
Throughout much of the ordeal, based off social-media posts, the players were apparently in good spirits despite the transportation troubles.
Uncle @SnoopDogg can you come pick us up on the soul plane pic.twitter.com/dYEu5PRwJW
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) September 25, 2023
Yo @taylorswift13 & @tkelce we might need a ride to Pittsburgh
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) September 25, 2023
The Steelers have a scheduled off-day Monday. Coach Mike Tomlin is scheduled to meet with the media at noon Tuesday, and players return to practice n Wednesday. They play at 1 p.m. next Sunday at Houston.
