Donnie Wahlberg and seven companions avoided injury when their private aircraft slid off a Las Vegas runway on Sunday. The incident occurred shortly after the New Kids on the Block concluded their residency in the city .
The 11 a.m. excursion off Runway 1L
At approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday, a general aviation aircraft carrying Donnie Wahlberg and seven other pasengers failed to gain altitude during takeoff at the Las Vegas airport (LAS). According to the report, the plane skidded off Runway 1L and collided with the airport's perimeter fence. The impact caused damage to the aircraft, though no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
The disruption forced airport officials to close both Runways 1R and 1L for safety inspections . As the airpoort reported in a social media statement, these closures led to potential travel delays for other passengers using the facility. A TikTok video circulating from the scene captured the high-tension moment, featuring a voice shouting "Aborting. Aborting" as air traffic controllers coordinated the arrival of emergency vehicles.
A chaotic finale to the New Kids on the Block residency
The flight was intended to transport Donnie Wahlberg and his team away from Nevada following the final performance of the New Kids on the Block residency. This dramatic conclusion to their Las Vegas run stands in stark contrast to the band's long-standing cultural footprint , including the official "New Kids on the Block Day" declared by former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis on April 24.
The transition from the adrenaline of a residency finale to a near-disaster on the tarmac underscores the volatile nature of celebrity touring schedules. for Donnie Wahlberg,the event served as a sudden shift from the cheers of a crowd to the sirens of emergency responders, marking an unexpected end to the group's professional engagement in the city.
Wahlberg's 'Praise Jesus' reaction to the crash
Following the incident, Donnie Wahlberg took to social media to reassure fans and family, sharing a video in which he confirmed that he and his team were safe. He described the terrifying experience of running out of runway, noting that he had just finished praying when he realized the aircraft was not ascending. "God is good," Wahlberg stated in the video, concluding his message with the phrase "Praise Jesus."
In an Instagram caption, Donnie Wahlberg specifically credited the pilots and the Las Vegas emergency personnel for their rapid response and skill. He noted that while the airplane "did take some lumps," the passengers did not. This public expression of gratitude emphasizes the role of the flight crew in preventing what Wahlberg described as a potentially serious disaster.
The missing cause behind the general aviation aircraft's failure
Despite the airport's confirmation that the plane skidded off Runway 1L,the specific cause of the failed takeoff remains unknown. It is currently unclear whether the incident was the result of a mechanical malfunction, a pilot error, or external environmental factors that prevented the aircraft from becoming airborne.
Furthermore, the report does not specify the make or model of the private jet, nor does it provide details on the experience level of the pilots involved. Until a formal aviation safety investigation is released, the public is left only with the airport's brief statement and Donnie Wahlberg's personal account of the event.
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