The aircraft was scheduled to take off for the almost three-hour flight at 7:35 p.m. Shortly earlier than, Ball boarded with the opposite passengers, solely to deplane when a flight attendant introduced the aircraft had mechanical points. Ball stayed on the gate, ready for updates. Hours glided by. He laid down on the chilly, carpeted O’Hare flooring, headphones in. He tried to remain affected person. If his lengthy, irritating rehab journey had taught him something, it was that getting upset doesn’t get you wherever quicker. After a number of extra hours, he reboarded the aircraft with the hope Chicago’s famed snow elimination group would clear a runway. One other hour handed earlier than a flight attendant introduced it wasn’t secure to take off. Everybody deplaned — once more. At 9 a.m. the subsequent morning, the flight lastly took off. Ball wasn’t on it. “Wanting again at it,” he informed ESPN, “it was a blessing I didn’t do it.” -via ESPN / December 5, 2024
