In what is one of the most bizarre travel stories in recent memory, an Auburn plane had to return while mid-air en route to Houston.
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The reason for this was because there were some players engaging in some "horseplay," which escalated into a brawl while they were in the sky.
Anchor for Fox 6 WBRC, Jonathan Haridson, reported that some players on the Auburn men's basketball team engaged in a physical altercation while on the way to arrive ahead of their Saturday matchup vs. No. 4 ranked Houston.
"Flight that appears to be the Auburn men's basketball team heading to Houston diverted back to Auburn this afternoon. Air Traffic Control audio we've obtained shows a pilot in that airspace telling ATC 'we have a bunch of basketball players fighting.'"
It got so bad that the flight crew felt that they were in danger after just 45 minutes in the air, and the pilot made the call to turn the plane around.
Auburn plane returned back home due to horseplay between players on the flight that could have escalated into a fight, source told @TheFieldOf68.
Auburn was about 45 minutes en route and had to return home. Source said they are expected to take another plane to Houston later…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 9, 2024
The audio heard from the air-traffic control call, referenced that the players were all fighting each other.
And in view of who was involved in the scuffle, inside sources reveal an argument between Auburn players Chad Baker-Mazara and Drake & Dylan Cardwell is what started the fight on the flight.
SOURCE: Soon after the Auburn men’s basketball team’s flight took off, a physical altercation took place between Chad Baker-Mazara and the Cardwell brothers (Drake and Dylan). The three players had to be restrained as the flight landed back in Auburn. More to come.
— Connor Noonan (@ConnorNoonanCBB) November 8, 2024
After presumably catching another plane, No. 11 Auburn will face off with No. 4 Houston on Saturday night at 9:30 pm ET.
Last season, Auburn finished the season with a 27-8 record and won the SEC Championship Tournament. However, they ultimately fell to Yale in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
So far this year, Auburn is 1-0 after defeating Vermont 94-43.
Looking at their game vs. the Cougars, the Tigers are currently +225 underdogs and will now evidently have to deal with team chemistry issues ahead of their primetime matchup.
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