What began as an ordinary flight out of Las Vegas turned into a frightening emergency for Donnie Wahlberg and seven other people. Their private jet never made it into the air. Instead, it ran off the runway, struck a perimeter fence, and narrowly avoided heavy equipment. Now, newly released air traffic control audio reveals the urgent warning from the cockpit.
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On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Donnie Wahlberg experienced a terrifying moment that he would later describe with profound gratitude.
The 57-year-old singer and actor, known for New Kids on the Block, Blue Bloods, and Boston Blue, was aboard a private aircraft preparing to depart Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
His destination was Toronto, Canada.
But the flight never became airborne.
At approximately 11 a.m. local time, the aircraft’s pilots aborted the takeoff. The jet continued beyond the runway and struck an airport perimeter fence.
Eight people were aboard.
Remarkably, no injuries were reported.
Within hours, Wahlberg was sharing a video with fans, crediting the pilots for keeping everyone safe.
People.com
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The Two Words Heard During the Emergency
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The most dramatic new detail emerged when air traffic control audio from the incident circulated publicly.
In the recording, a voice believed to belong to one of the pilots can be heard urgently repeating:
“Aborting, aborting.”
Those two words indicated that the crew was attempting to stop the aircraft’s departure.
Air traffic controllers responded by arranging emergency assistance and checking whether anyone aboard had been injured.
The recording, reported by TMZ and local television station FOX5 Las Vegas on October 19, offers a glimpse into how quickly the situation escalated.
The audio does not, by itself, establish what caused the aborted takeoff.
TMZ
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Inside the Jet: What Happened on the Runway?
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According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft was a Dassault Falcon 50, a three-engine business jet.
The plane was scheduled to travel from Las Vegas to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
As it accelerated along the runway, the pilots attempted to discontinue the takeoff.
But the aircraft did not stop before reaching the end of the paved runway.
It continued into the airport’s perimeter area, eventually striking a fence.
Wahlberg later described seeing trucks, dumpsters, and heavy equipment near the aircraft’s path.
Although the jet sustained damage, it avoided a collision with the larger obstacles.
The exact cause of the incident remains under investigation. There has been no verified finding that a particular mechanical failure, pilot error, or runway condition caused the accident.
EW.com
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Donnie Wahlberg Breaks His Silence: “These Pilots Saved Our Lives”
Shortly after the frightening incident, Wahlberg recorded a video explaining what had happened.
He reassured his loved ones and fans that everyone aboard had survived without injury.
He also made clear how seriously he viewed the situation.
“These pilots saved our lives,” he said.
The actor explained that the aircraft had failed to become airborne and had run out of runway.
He pointed toward the surrounding airport equipment and described how narrowly the aircraft had avoided striking it.
Wahlberg also expressed his religious faith, saying he believed God had protected the passengers and crew.
In his Instagram caption, he described the experience as intense and thanked the pilots and emergency responders.
His message was ultimately one of relief: the aircraft was damaged, but the people aboard were safe.
EW.com
Just Hours Earlier, He Had Been Celebrating With Thousands of Fans
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The timing made the incident particularly striking.
On Saturday, October 17, Wahlberg had performed with New Kids on the Block during the final show of the group’s Las Vegas residency.
The residency, titled The Right Stuff, had included 40 performances.
For the singer and his bandmates, the evening marked the conclusion of a major entertainment commitment.
The following morning, Wahlberg and members of his team were preparing to leave Las Vegas.
Instead of a routine departure, they found themselves involved in an aviation emergency.
The contrast between the previous night’s celebrations and the next morning’s frightening experience was not lost on fans who learned about the incident.
Parade
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Jenny McCarthy Reacts to Her Husband’s Close Call
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As news of the incident spread, attention turned to Wahlberg’s wife, television personality Jenny McCarthy.
The couple married in 2014 and have frequently spoken publicly about their close relationship.
After her husband shared his video, McCarthy responded in the comments with a message expressing gratitude to God, accompanied by numerous prayer and heart emojis.
Her reaction reflected the relief felt by friends, family members, and fans.
Wahlberg had initially recorded his message for people close to him, then decided to share it more widely after receiving concerned messages.
There is no confirmed reporting that McCarthy was aboard the aircraft. Wahlberg described the passengers as members of his team and friends.
People.com
The Airport Emergency: Runways Closed and Flights Delayed
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The incident also affected airport operations.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft went off Runway 1L and made contact with the airport’s perimeter fence.
Two runways, 1L and 1R, were temporarily closed for inspection.
The FAA also implemented a temporary ground stop, affecting arriving flights.
The ground stop was lifted later that afternoon, and the runways subsequently reopened.
For travelers, the incident caused delays. For the eight people aboard the jet, it had been a far more personal emergency.
AP News
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What Investigators Are Looking Into
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The FAA confirmed that it was investigating the runway excursion.
Investigators may examine the aircraft’s condition, maintenance history, crew actions, weather, and runway conditions to establish what happened.
An aborted takeoff can occur for several reasons, including an aircraft warning, an unexpected mechanical issue, or another safety concern.
But it would be premature to attribute this particular incident to any one explanation.
As of October 20, no publicly confirmed final cause has been established.
The NTSB had not released a detailed finding about the event in the initial reporting.
People.com
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A Look at Donnie Wahlberg’s Life Before the Incident
The early yearsWahlberg rose to fame with New Kids on the Block in the late 1980s.
Television successHe became widely recognized as Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods.
Love and familyWahlberg married Jenny McCarthy in 2014.
October 2026His band’s Las Vegas residency concluded shortly before the incident.
The Moment That Could Have Ended Very Differently
The most unsettling detail of the entire incident may be how close the aircraft came to the heavy equipment near the runway.
Wahlberg described the pilots’ actions as lifesaving.
The air traffic control recording captured the urgency of the aborted takeoff.
And airport officials confirmed the most important outcome: everyone aboard survived without reported injury.
What began as a flight to Toronto became a frightening reminder that even routine departures can turn into emergencies within moments.
For Wahlberg, the experience ended not with a concert encore or another television appearance, but with a heartfelt message of gratitude to the people who helped keep him safe.
The aircraft was damaged. The flight never reached its destination. But all eight people aboard walked away.
And while investigators continue examining what caused the accident, those two urgent words from the cockpit remain one of the most memorable details of the story.
Watch the Footage and Listen to the ATC Audio
The following reports include the original video coverage and the reported air traffic control recording:
- TMZ — Listen to the emergency ATC audio
- FOX5 Las Vegas — Local coverage and air traffic control response
- Entertainment Weekly — Donnie Wahlberg’s account of the incident
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