Donnie Wahlberg thanked God and his pilots after a private jet carrying him and seven others skidded off a Las Vegas runway and struck a fence.
The New Kids on the Block singer was leaving Las Vegas on Sunday morning when the general aviation aircraft failed to get airborne, ran out of runway, and made contact with the airport perimeter fence. Wahlberg said the plane took some lumps. The people on board did not.
Harry Reid International Airport confirmed the excursion on runway 1L at about 11 a.m., with no known injuries. Wahlberg had closed the band’s Las Vegas residency the night before. By morning he was filming a video to calm friends, family, and fans who had flooded him with worried messages.
In that post, shared after the failed departure, he made the stakes plain and pointed first to faith and the cockpit.
Fox News Digital reported his account of the scramble on the ground.
Wahlberg wrote that he was getting concerned messages about the flight’s failed attempt to leave Las Vegas that morning and appreciated the well wishes. He said he filmed the video for friends and family, then shared it more widely because so many fans feel like family too.
"Yes, it was me and my team/friends onboard the aircraft."
He described what followed as intense moments that felt like long minutes. Then he put the credit where he believed it belonged.
"I’m just going to tell you these pilots saved our lives."
Wahlberg said they were taking off, did not get up in the air, and ran out of runway. He added that God covered them, that he was not sure how many fences they avoided, and that they did not avoid the last one. He said he finished praying, looked out the window, and told himself they were not going up that day, but they were safe and thankful.
"All glory to God! By His grace, we are all ok."
He thanked “incredible pilots” for keeping them safe and avoiding a serious disaster, thanked emergency personnel on the ground in Las Vegas, and summed up the damage in one line: the airplane took some lumps, but the people did not. His wife, Jenny McCarthy, answered in the comments with a short line of her own: “God is so good!”
Airport officials put the same basic facts on the record. Spokesperson Monika Bertaki confirmed details to the Associated Press, and the airport posted the official account on social media.
"At approximately 11 a.m., upon departure, a general aviation aircraft skid off runway 1L at LAS and made contact with the perimeter fence."
Officials also stated there were no known injuries at that time. Runways 1R and 1L closed for inspection. Travelers were warned they could face delays. A later update said both runways had reopened after the checks.
Audio circulating online captured a voice calling “Aborting. Aborting,” followed by a controller confirming emergency vehicles were on the way. Wahlberg said the crew narrowly missed trucks, heavy equipment, and dumpsters near the end of the runway before the final fence contact. A representative for the singer did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
When a takeoff fails and metal meets fence, skill in the cockpit and calm on the ground still matter, and so does the habit of giving thanks when everyone walks away.
