Arsenal team plane bursts into flames on runway during takeoff to London

The takeoff of the Arsenal women’s team plane back to London was interrupted when the aircraft burst into flames on the runway. The incident occurred at the Braunschweig Wolfsburg Airport in Germany following the team’s Champions League match. Despite the harrowing experience, all passengers, including players and staff, remained unharmed.

The Boeing 737, scheduled to depart at 7:30 pm on Sunday, April 23, was set to return to London after the team’s 2-2 draw against VfL Wolfsburg in the Champions League semi-final. Just before takeoff, a loud bang alerted the crew to the flames emanating from one of the engines, prompting the pilots to abort the departure and evacuate the passengers on the tarmac.

According to an airport spokesperson cited in a German newspaper, the fire was caused by a bird strike on the engine. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The team and staff were accommodated in a nearby hotel before eventually flying back to London the following day on a different aircraft.

An update on the situation was shared on Twitter, confirming that the technical issue with the plane had led to the team’s extended stay in Germany after their Champions League tie with Wolfsburg.