A plane carrying the Arsenal women’s team back from their Champions League semi-final first leg with Wolfsburg burst into flames on the runway on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred at the Braunschweig Wolfsburg Airport after a bird flew into the engine shortly before it was due to take off.
Flames immediately started to come out of the Boeing 737, and the pilots on board quickly evacuated the passengers, including Arsenal’s first team squad to safety.
Arsenal statement: “Our aircraft developed a technical issue prior to take-off in Germany on Sunday evening. As a result, we remained in Wolfsburg overnight on Sunday before flying back to England on Monday afternoon.”
Arsenal Women, who became the only English club to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League with victory against Umea IK in 2007, returned from the capital level with VfL Wolfsburg Ladies.
The Gunners clawed their way back after going two goals down inside 25 minutes, with quick goals for Polish striker Ewa Pajor and Icelandic forward Sveindis Jonsdottir.
Arsenal’s Brazilian defender clawed one back before the interval.
Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius, who joined Arsenal from BK Hacken in January 2022, drew the Gunners level in the 70th minute.
Arsenal Women will face VfL Wolsfburg Ladies in the second-leg at the Emirates Stadium on May 1
Source: Soccanews.com