Vikings Reach New Jersey Late After Travel Scare Ahead of Giants Matchup

The Minnesota Vikings landed safely in New Jersey just hours before kickoff for their Sunday afternoon game against the New York Giants after an unexpected flight delay on Saturday.

Vikings officials say their original charter flight left Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport earlier in the day. After takeoff, the crew noticed a mechanical fault and turned back for safety. The jet returned to the airport safely after the rapid decision, protecting players, coaches, and staff.

After checks confirmed the issue, the organization booked a different plane for the team. The replacement flight left later and arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport late Saturday night. Despite the delay, team management said travel plans were altered seamlessly, allowing players to recover and follow their game-day routine.

The timing of the arrival complicated a clash between two clubs out of the playoffs. Minnesota entered the weekend 6–8, while New York was 2–12. Both teams are focused on finishing the season professionally and evaluating prospects for the future, even though postseason chances are gone.

League travel protocols promote safety, and infrequent mechanical turnbacks are handled within airline and team norms. This is not expected to affect the game schedule, and the Sunday 1 p.m. kickoff was not changed.

By late Saturday night, the Vikings were in New Jersey prepping for game day. The safety-first travel policy is standard NFL practices and collaboration with aviation authorities, team representatives said.

Fans will likely forget the little travel disturbance once they arrive at the stadium on Sunday afternoon and focus on the Vikings-Giants game.

Sources
Associated Press
Minnesota Vikings Team Communications