A takeoff that ended at the fence
A general aviation aircraft carrying Donnie Wahlberg and seven other people slid off runway 1L at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas at roughly 11 a.m. on Sunday and came into contact with the airport's perimeter fence, according to a statement the airport posted on social media. The airport said no injuries were known at that point. Runways 1R and 1L were shut for inspection, and travelers were warned to expect delays; a later update confirmed both had reopened.[S1][S2][S7]
In a video he recorded for friends and family shortly after the incident and then shared publicly, Wahlberg said the aircraft never became airborne. He described the experience as a tense stretch of time that seemed to last far longer than it did, and said the plane came close to trucks, heavy equipment and dumpsters positioned near the end of the runway.[S1]
An air traffic control recording that circulated on TikTok includes a voice calling out an aborted takeoff, followed by a controller confirming that emergency vehicles were heading to the scene. A representative for Wahlberg did not immediately answer a request for comment from Fox News Digital.[S1]
Praise for the crew and gratitude after landing
Wahlberg, who had performed with New Kids on the Block at the closing night of the group's Las Vegas residency, used his Instagram caption to thank the pilots for what he described as an outstanding job that kept everyone safe and averted a serious disaster. He noted that the aircraft sustained damage while the people on board did not, and he expressed appreciation for the emergency crews on the ground in Las Vegas.[S1][S3][S4][S6]
In the video, Wahlberg credited the pilots directly with saving the lives of those aboard and said he felt protected. He recounted praying, then looking out the window and concluding that the flight would not leave the ground that day but that everyone was safe and thankful.[S1][S8]
Jenny McCarthy, Wahlberg's wife, responded in the comments beneath his post with a short message of gratitude. Outlets across several countries picked up the story, focusing on the singer's account and his thanks to the flight crew.[S1][S5]
