BALTIMORE, Maryland, Wednesday, March 7, 2017 - The Jet carrying the University of Michigan basketball team to the Big Ten Tournament in Washington, D.C. was forced to abort its takeoff in Michigan today, just an instant after leaving the ground. The pilots of the speeding jet executed a hard braking and managed to bring the vehicle to a stop before anyone on board sustained serious injuries.
The Jet, a McDonnell-Douglas MD-83, was attempting to become airborne just before 3 pm despite strong winds at Detroit - Willow Run Airport. But just after its wheels were withdrawn, they snapped back down. The pilots reacted promptly, and even though the jet crashed through a chain link fence and crossed a road near the airport, no one was seriously injured, either on the craft or on the ground. But the jet sustained serious damage.
A player on the Michigan team, Andrew Dakich, told his father, Dan Dakich, an ESPN On-Air Personality, that the Michigan Coach, John Beilein, played a heroic role in evacuating the jet. With at least one engine that was located near an escape route smoking, Beline placed himself in harm's way and helped everyone on board to escape. Several people said it was possible that some on board sustained minor injuries.
As this is posted near 9:30 pm the Michigan team was still in Michigan and was planning on leaving Thursday. It is due to open play in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night.
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