Tennessee’s trip to Texas A&M hit an unexpected snag on Saturday when a nationwide FAA grounding kept flights on the ground across the country.
That includes the Volunteers, who were supposed to head into Texas ahead of their matchup with the Aggies. The game is set for 3:00 PM EST, or 2:00 PM CST for fans attending in person.
“Due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety,” the Federal Aviation Administration said, according to CNN.
Reports indicated the issue is likely tied to a communication error, which has created widespread problems. The hope is that it gets sorted out before kickoff, but Tennessee’s travel plans have already been thrown off.
The Vols are not the only team dealing with the mess. David Ubben of The Athletic noted on X that several programs were caught in the same situation.
“Tennessee, Washington, and Ole Miss are trying to finalize transit to road games this weekend. No idea how long this FAA grounding will be. Wake Forest, Mizzou, and South Carolina have already arrived to their destinations,” David Ubben from The Athletic said in an X post.
That uncertainty is the real issue. If the grounding lasts, Tennessee may have to find another way to get to the game, most likely by bus, and that would change the whole rhythm of the trip. Sleep schedule, arrival time, and the usual pregame routine would all take a hit.
For now, the Vols are waiting. Charles Mays reported that the team is still on the tarmac while they wait for further instructions.
Per a Tennessee football source, the team’s plane remains on the tarmac awaiting further instructions. The flight was scheduled to depart at 4 p.m. pic.twitter.com/l7ECGE2H0e
The next few hours will matter a lot as Tennessee waits to see whether the grounding is lifted in time for the team to travel as planned.
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