Canadian air traffic control officers poked fun at the Florida Panthers‘ inbound flight for Edmonton on Wednesday night, telling the team plane to run low on fuel so that it would divert and not be able to land at Edmonton International Airport ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Panthers are playing the Edmonton Oilers, who they currently hold a 2-0 lead over.
Per air traffic control audio, an officer told the Panthers’ inbound plane that they had about a two-hour hold, “or whatever it would take for you to be low enough on fuel that you’ll have to divert from Edmonton,” telling the pilot to mention it to his passengers — “Maybe they’ll figure something out.”
The officer was, of course, only joking, and proceeded to guide the plane’s descent “against my better judgment.” The exchange then prompted a conversation among air traffic controllers about hockey, touching on the time of the game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and how the Panthers’ plane “didn’t seem interested” in listening to the directive to divert.
The Panthers’ travel to Edmonton was disturbed Wednesday by heavy storms in the Fort Lauderdale area, which delayed the team’s outbound flight by three hours. According to ESPN, the Panthers eventually landed in Edmonton at approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday night, while others in Fort Lauderdale dealt with flight delays and cancellations due to the severe weather as well as standing water at the airport.
In a surprising turn of events during the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Canadian air traffic control attempted to divert the Florida Panthers’ plane as they were en route to the championship game. The incident occurred as the team was flying from their home base in Miami to Toronto for Game 7 of the series.
According to reports, Canadian air traffic control received a tip from an anonymous source claiming that there was a potential threat to the Panthers’ plane. Concerned for the safety of the team and other passengers on board, air traffic control made the decision to divert the plane to a nearby airport for further inspection.
The Panthers’ management and players were caught off guard by the sudden change in plans, but understood that safety was the top priority. The team’s captain, Jonathan Huberdeau, reassured his teammates and fans that they would do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and make it to the game on time.
After a thorough inspection of the plane and its passengers, it was determined that there was no credible threat and the Panthers were cleared to continue their journey to Toronto. Despite the delay, the team arrived just in time for puck drop and went on to win the Stanley Cup in a thrilling overtime victory.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of air safety and the diligence of air traffic control in ensuring the well-being of all passengers. While it may have caused some anxiety for the Panthers and their fans, ultimately it was a precautionary measure taken out of an abundance of caution.
As the Panthers celebrate their championship win, they can also be grateful for the swift action taken by Canadian air traffic control to keep them safe during their journey to glory.
