Hundreds of flights have been delayed or all out canceled this weekend as a massive winter storm snarled traffic across the country.
Among those impacted were the Kansas City Chiefs, who were trying to leave Kansas City on Saturday ahead of their Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Severe winter weather was sweeping through the area on Saturday, KTLA sister station WDAF reported, and the weather paired with a broken-down treatment truck forced Kansas City International Airport to shut down its airfield.
Officials cited “rapid ice accumulation” in a statement shortly before 3 p.m.
The shutdown also grounded the Chiefs’ flight, which was prepared to take off for Denver, the WDAF sports team confirmed.
The Chiefs originally planned to leave before the storm could affect their travel plans; however, the plane they were set to fly aboard was delayed in arriving at KCI.
There were initially concerns the Chiefs-Broncos game would be rescheduled, but shortly before 5 p.m. local on Saturday, City Manager Brian Platt said KCI runways would “reopen and resume normal operations in about 30 minutes.”
The Chiefs were eventually able to take off and later landed in Denver at around 6 p.m. MT — nearly three and a half hours later than scheduled, according to FlightAware.com. The flight likely encountered heavy snow en route as well, as snowy conditions stretched across the central U.S. from both coasts.
Sunday afternoon’s game forecast calls for a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the mid 30s and minimal winds, according to KTLA sister station KDVR.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Chiefs were able to reach Denver, just hours after they were meant to land.
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