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March 7, 2016

Hendrick Motorsports plane forced to make emergency landing


A Hendrick Motorsports plane carrying team members was forced to make an emergency landing Monday morning as the team traveled back from Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

According to a team spokesperson, the plane was diverted to Memphis International Airport after a presence of smoke was noticed in the plane’s cabin. The plane landed safely and is being evaluated, according to the HMS spokesperson.

No injuries were reported and none of the team’s four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers were on board the aircraft.

The passengers returned to North Carolina on another flight.

Listen to the spotter for Jimmie Johnson‘s No. 48 Chevrolet, Earl Barban, recount the flight in the video above.

Jessica O’Brien, wife of Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 engineer Tim O’Brien, tweeted the following reaction:

MUST WATCH