The Utah Jazz, owners of the NBA’s best record at 36-11, experienced a frightening ordeal earlier this week when the team’s plane collided with a flock of birds shortly after takeoff. The mishap drew parallels to the similarly ill-fated US Airways Flight 1549, when pilot Sully Sullenberger famously staged an emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009. Though no one was hurt (aside from the birds that flew into the plane’s engine), Jazz players were understandably rattled after Tuesday’s close call with Jordan Clarkson admitting he feared for his life.
“It got to that point where we were all on the plane like, 'This might really be the end,’” said Clarkson, describing Tuesday’s harrowing events to ESPN’s Tim McMahon. “Everybody came to the point where it was like, 'Man, it might be over for us.’”
"For a good 10 or 15 minutes, I think all of us on that flight were questioning if we were going to be here today,” teammate Mike Conley agreed. “That's how serious it was for us. I can't speak for everybody, but I know that guys were trying to text family just in case.”
The Jazz eventually boarded another plane to Memphis, but without their leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell, who stayed behind in Salt Lake City. Utah cited “personal reasons” for Mitchell’s absence against the Grizzlies Wednesday night, though it’s believed his fear of flying prompted that decision.
"I mean, it was a crazy situation. I understand fully why Don didn't come,” said Clarkson, who contributed 24 points on 8-of-22 shooting in the win over Memphis. It’s unclear if Mitchell will be available for the team’s next road game, scheduled for Monday night in Dallas.
“It was obvious that something was really wrong with the plane,” acknowledged Conley. “It felt like the plane was breaking apart in midair. For five or 10 minutes, it felt like complete helplessness.”
Winners of seven straight and nine of 11 since the All-Star break, Utah will host the Bulls in the first night of a back-to-back Friday at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake.
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