Plane carrying Post Malone, 15 others makes emergency landing after blowing tires during takeoff at Teterboro Airport
TETERBORO, New Jersey (WABC) -- A plane carrying rapper Post Malone and 15 others made an emergency landing at Stewart International Airport in New York after blowing two tires during takeoff at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey Tuesday morning.
The Gulfstream IV was en route to London Luton Airport in the United Kingdom when the pilot realized shortly after takeoff that the two front tires had blown.
The pilot began circling the airport for about 30 minutes before the jet was diverted. It flew over Connecticut for the next few hours before landing at Stewart Airport in New Windsor, Orange County around 4:00 p.m. The FAA will investigate the incident.
The plane originally was to attempt an emergency landing at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Massachusetts, airport manager Eric Billowitz said. It circled over Connecticut to burn fuel, a practice sometimes used to decrease the risk of explosion and fire during emergency landings.
A spokesperson confirmed the plane was carrying Post Malone, who had performed at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night. Posts to social media showed Post Malone and his entourage boarding the plane at Teterboro.
"Oh, my God, I hate flying in general. I don't even know what to say, man. I'm shook," he told the celebrity website TMZ on Facetime. "There was one hell of a team on that aircraft, and we're here, we're here on earth, and I need a beer, and I need some wine, at the same time, mixed together."
Post Malone's fans greeted him at the airport and could be heard cheering as the plane landed.
"We came down because he had the biggest day of his life yesterday and we wanted to make sure he is safe," said Jessica Kielb, of Chicopee, Massachusetts.
Dom Henry drove to the New York airport with friends as soon as he heard the plane would be landing there instead. He was one of several fans, mostly teenagers, who anxiously waited for the plane behind the chain link fence surrounding the runway.
"I was praying," he said.
Asked whether he was praying for Post Malone's safety, he said, "Yeah, of course. And to see him."
Post Malone was scheduled to perform at the Reading and Leeds Festival in England over the weekend, according to his website's tour schedule.
The face-tattooed singer/rapper took home the song of the year award at the MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night in New York for his hit "Rockstar," featuring 21 Savage. The song is from his latest album, "Beerbongs & Bentleys."
The 23-year-old was joined on stage by rockers Aerosmith and 21 Savage for a wild performance that closed out the awards show.
"thank you for your prayers," he posted on Twitter after Tuesday's emergency landing. "can't believe how many people wished death on me on this website."
Stewart's signature feature is a nearly 12,000-foot (3,650-meter) runway, long enough to handle the fat-bodied C-5A Galaxy planes laden with supplies and better for such emergencies.
The Associated Press contributed to this story,
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