The airplane 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 airplane had mechanical points. Ball stayed on the gate, ready for updates. Hours glided by. He laid down on the chilly, carpeted O’Hare ground, 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 sooner. After just a few extra hours, he reboarded the airplane with the hope Chicago’s famed snow removing 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 advised ESPN, “it was a blessing I didn’t do it.” -via ESPN / December 5, 2024
