Vikings Grounded-Literally-Before Week 16 Clash with Giants
If there’s one thing Vikings fans have learned over the years, it’s to expect the unexpected-and not in the good way. From miracle finishes to bizarre misfortunes, Minnesota’s football journey is rarely smooth. This weekend added another chapter to that saga, and it didn’t even happen on the field.
On Saturday, the Vikings’ travel plans hit a snag-mid-air. En route to New Jersey for their Week 16 matchup against the New York Giants, the team’s flight out of Minneapolis was forced to turn around due to mechanical issues with the plane.
According to the team’s official statement, the plane had just taken off when those issues surfaced, prompting a return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
That’s not exactly how any NFL team wants to start its road trip, especially with a Sunday kickoff looming.
The good news? The delay, while inconvenient, didn’t derail the entire operation.
The team quickly arranged for a second flight and was expected to arrive in Newark later that night. So while the schedule took a hit, the Vikings should still have enough time to settle in and prepare for their noon Central (1 p.m.
Eastern) kickoff at MetLife Stadium.
Still, it’s another moment in a season that’s had its fair share of turbulence-on and off the field. And while this particular hiccup won’t show up in the box score, travel disruptions like this can throw off a team’s rhythm.
NFL teams are creatures of habit. From meetings to meals to sleep schedules, everything is planned down to the minute.
Any deviation, especially this close to game day, can be a mental and logistical challenge.
What’s perhaps most frustrating for the Vikings is that this wasn’t weather-related or due to air traffic delays-just good old-fashioned mechanical trouble. It’s the kind of thing that feels all too familiar to a franchise that’s seen more than its fair share of strange twists.
Looking ahead, the silver lining for Minnesota is that this is their last road trip of the regular season. They’ll close out the 2025 campaign with back-to-back home games at U.S.
Bank Stadium, both against division rivals. That means no more airports, no more travel delays-just cold-weather football in their own backyard.
Of course, late December and early January in Minnesota bring their own brand of unpredictability. But at least the team won’t have to worry about getting off the ground-literally.
While the Vikings are out of the playoff hunt, there’s still plenty to play for. Sunday’s game against the struggling Giants presents a chance to reset, refocus, and show that this team can finish strong. And after a season filled with ups and downs, a clean flight and a clean win would go a long way.
For now, the Vikings are back in the air and back on track. Let’s just hope the rest of the weekend goes a little smoother than the start.