AUBURN, Ala. (AP) – A flight carrying the No. 11 Auburn basketball team was grounded shortly after takeoff Friday after two players on board got into an argument, according to multiple reports.
“We had two players get into an argument, clothes were torn,” the pilot said in audio to air traffic controllers. obtained by WBRC-TV.
The Tigers were headed to Houston, where they would play the fourth-seeded Cougars on Saturday. The plane took off shortly before 3 p.m. but turned around and landed about 40 minutes later.
According to the audio, the pilot told air traffic controllers that the police had been called.
ESPN also confirmed the scuffle during the flight, citing anonymous sources. The fight was broken up before it became anything serious and a replacement flight left Friday evening, ESPN reported.
Auburn’s athletic department did not respond to requests for comment from WBRC or ESPN.
Auburn defeated Vermont 94-43 during the season opener on Wednesday evening. The Tigers are in their 11th season under coach Bruce Pearl, who has taken them to the NCAA Tournament five times, including a Final Four appearance in 2019.