English Premier League defending Champions Manchester City suffered a scare on Wednesday evening after their plane struggled to touch down at the Manchester Airport.
City were on their way back home from a Champions League fixture in Lisbon, Portugal, when they went through the ordeal.
Strong winds in Manchester forced their chartered plane to stay a little longer, circling three times in the air before they were diverted to Liverpool.
Upon safe landing, City took to their social platforms to confirm that all was well.
“We can confirm the plane transporting the first team home from Lisbon has landed safely in Liverpool after high winds forced a diversion from Manchester,” said City.
Liverpool Airport also confirmed the EPL Champions’ safe landing, saying: “Great to safely welcome Manchester City to the football capital of England this afternoon after their flight was diverted from their home airport due to high winds.”
Some teams have in the past, unfortunately, fallen victim to plane crashes which ended up claiming players’ lives.
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In 1958, a plane carrying Manchester United players crashed into the Munich Airport’s fence after snow on the runway slowed down its take-off. Eight players lost their lives.
In November 2016, Brazilian football club Chapecoense were also involved in a crash that claimed 71 people. Only Helio Neto, then a defender at the team, survived the crash.
Closer home, the Zambian National Team was also involved in a tragic crash in 1993, on their way to a 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Senegal in Dakar. The crash claimed all the players on board.
City, meanwhile, beat Sporting Lisbon 5-0 in their first leg match in Portugal and are expected to have an easy time making it to the quarters in April.
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