A plane transporting the Auburn Tigers to Houston for Saturday's crucial early-season game against the Houston Cougars was briefly stranded after a fight broke out between players on board, according to reports. That alone forced him to change course.
WBRC in Birmingham reported that the pilot announced he was turning the plane around and heading back to Auburn because “a group of basketball players were fighting.”
Audio obtained by WBMA details a steadily escalating situation that led to a diversion of the emergency and a call to police.
The audio shows the pilot asked for permission to change the plane's course and that a “security officer or police officer” was present upon arrival.
“Well, that's where they got out and the fighting has subsided,” the pilot said. “We talked to the coaches. And the nurses were on board too. We talked to them.”
I hear the pilot say: “There's an altercation going on onboard… there's a lot of basketball players fighting.” The pilot revealed it was a “physical altercation” and that at least one player was “bloodied.” .
According to On3sports' Justin Hokanson, the players involved were Auburn freshman F. Ja'Qui Howard and senior F. Jaheim Hudson.
“Source: Auburn freshman F. Jarki Howard and senior F. Jaheim Hudson will not travel to Houston for Saturday night's game due to an altercation between players during Friday's travel. It’s planned.”
The 11th ranked Auburn Tigers will play the 4th ranked Houston Cougars on Saturday at 9:30 ET.
