The Houston Texans finally landed back home at the airport in Texas around 8:15 a.m. on Monday morning, more than 14 hours after their loss to the New England Patriots. Their plane got stuck in the snow.
A bad day got even worse.
Although the flight eventually got in the air, it did not fly straight home. The NFL team was diverted.
The Houston Texans lost to the New England Patriots.
According to the flight log for United flight 3813, the B772 aircraft left the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 12:04 p.m. CST on Saturday afternoon. It landed at the Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Providence at 3:58 p.m. EST.
The Houston Texans had just gone into the locker room at halftime of the AFC Divisional Round game.
CJ Stroud had already thrown an NFL record four interceptions during the first half, which ultimately proved to be the difference between a win and a loss. DeMeco Ryans made sure to seal the deal with poor clock management throughout the second half and a pathetic punt during the four quarter.
The New England Patriots ultimately advanced to the AFC Championship game by a final score of 28-16.
The clock hit zero at 6:15 p.m. EST on Saturday evening. Players still had to shower, change, etc. Ryans and his team still had to meet with the media. It was not a quick exit out of Foxboro after the game.
To make matters worse, Gillette Stadium is located about 35 miles from the Providence airport— a 40 minute drive. And a heavy snow was starting to fall.
The team plane got stuck at the airport.
Upon arrival to the airport, it became abundantly clear that it could be awhile before the Houston Texans actually got in the air. All flights were grounded due to weather.
The planes were covered in snow and ice.
The above photo (of a different plane at the same airport) was captured at 8:30 p.m. EST. Houston’s plane, flight UAL3813, was still on the ground in Providence as of 1:00 a.m. EST.
It finally got in the air around 1:45 a.m. EST.
However, the flight was diverted to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. I don’t yet know why it was diverted but I would assume it had to do with the weather. Something needed a check. Maybe they couldn’t fuel up all of the way in Providence because of the snow. I don’t know. Doesn’t matter.
United flight 3813 landed in Newark at 2:27 a.m. EST.
The Houston Texans sat on the tarmac for more than two hours while whatever needed to get done got done. They finally took off for Texas at 4:37 a.m. EST.
It is a four(ish)-hour flight from Newark to Houston.
The Texans finally landed back home at Bush Intercontinental at 7:17 a.m. CST. The return trip, which started when the clock hit zero at 6:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, took more than 13 hours in total.
There may not be a worse way to sit with a demoralizing loss.