Flight Carrying NASCAR Personnel From Charlotte to Mexico City Cancels Takeoff

What’s Happening?

A flight carrying NASCAR industry members to Mexico City failed to take off from Charlotte Douglas International Airport this afternoon; the passengers are now being flown on different flights.

• Update: According to Matt Weaver on X, the two planes were carrying around 100 people each. On one of the flights, the pilot claimed that engine two blew before taking off.
• NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ryan Ellis was the first to report an issue with the flight, posting updates on X, stating, “Cancel that, plane attempted takeoff, plane made a small boom, we are headed back.” Ellis then posted photos of passengers exiting the plane, which airport firefighters surrounded.
• There are no reports that any passengers were harmed, and this seems to be a precautionary measure. According to NASCAR officials in Mexico City, those on board this flight, alongside another that had issues departing Charlotte, are attempting to find alternative flights to Mexico City.
• Some media members, car haulers, and officials are already in Mexico City preparing for this weekend’s race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Yet, a significant number of industry members and drivers were scheduled to leave today, with many posting about the sheer number of NASCAR personnel at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
• The first on-track session for this weekend’s doubleheader is tomorrow, with practice sessions for both the Xfinity and Cup Series garages scheduled to begin at 1:05 PM EST. These practice sessions, which most typically overlook, are valuable this weekend as they serve as an introduction to the 2.417-mile road course for most of the field.

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