Robert Griffin III survived a potentially life-threatening experience in Houston after the plane he was flying on caught fire and was forced to return to the airport.
As explained by the former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowl quarterback, the right engine on his United Airlines flight caught fire moments after takeoff.
‘We were sitting right there next to it,’ the 36-year-old NFL analyst and podcaster said in a self-shot video posted on X.
Griffin’s brief clip is shot from the terminal window and shows two individuals inspecting the right engine.
‘The right engine of our plane flying out of Houston caught fire just after take off,’ Griffin added in the caption. ‘We heard 15 straight loud bangs and immediately knew something was wrong.
‘Thankfully the pilots were able to get us and every passenger back safe and sound with zero injuries… God is good.’
Retired NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III survived a potentially life-threatening experience in Houston after the plane he was flying on caught fire and was forced to return to the airport
As explained by the former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowl quarterback, the right engine on his United Airlines flight caught fire moments after takeoff. Fortunately no one was hurt
The Boeing 777-200ER carrying 267 passengers and 13 crew members landed safely back in Houston and deplaning was uneventful, according to United. The flight was headed to Germany.
United said in a statement that it was arranging a replacement aircraft to take stranded passengers to Munich.
Curiously, some of Griffin’s followers were stunned to see him flying commercial, given his nine-year NFL career.
‘I’m honestly surprised you don’t fly private,’ one fan responded.
Griffin earned $33 million in NFL salary over an injury-plagued career, while private flights from Houston to Germany can easily surpass the six-figure threshold.
Still, it’s not clear why he was traveling to Munich. There was some speculation he was attending a flag football event in the country, but the former Baylor star has backed off his plans to play for the United States when the sport debuts at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
