Passengers on Michigan flight describe scary scene: 'Thought it was gonna blow'

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Though Michigan landed safely Thursday morning in Washington for their game against Illinois, where the players were forced to wear their practice jerseys, passengers from Wednesday's flight recalled the harrowing experience when their airplane failed to take off and slid off the runway.

Those on board described how the plane never lifted off the ground due to heavy winds and the landing gear collapsed as it veered off the runway to avoid buildings, according to Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com.

"That pilot undoubtedly saved our lives," one witness said. "He knew something wasn't right."

"Thought it was gonna blow," strength coach Jon Sanderson said.

Michigan's players weren't the only passengers on board, as family members of staff, the band, and cheerleaders were present, leading to multiple screams and tears as the plane skidded away.

Players Jon Teske and Mark Donnal took the doors off the plane to commence emergency exit procedures, only to have the wind cause the inflatable chutes to flail and flop.

Coaches and players then helped all 109 passengers off the plane, with head coach John Beilein taking the lead role and being described as "unbelievable" by several people, as he had fuel on his face and checked on each person individually.

After disembarking the aircraft, everyone ran away from the plane, with the burned engine still churning with noise.