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Duran Exposes Red Sox Plane Disaster AGAIN After Dodgers Win
Boston Red Sox Have Third Plane Trouble in Six Weeks — But Keep Winning Anyway
The Quick Version
Imagine you’re on a roll at your job — everything’s going great — but your car keeps breaking down on the way to work. That’s basically what’s happening to the Boston Red Sox right now, except their "car" is a charter plane, and they’ve had three mechanical issues in just six weeks.
The wild part? They keep winning anyway.
What Happened This Time?
The latest incident happened Sunday night after the Red Sox completed a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers (the team that won the last two World Series).
- The team was scheduled to fly home after an 8-4 victory
- Their plane had mechanical problems
- They sat on the tarmac for 5 hours and 2 minutes before finally taking off
- Outfielder Jarren Duran shared the news on his Instagram story
Important Point: This is the third time since June 24 that a Red Sox charter flight has had serious mechanical issues.
The Three Incidents: A Timeline
1. June 24 — The "Hydraulics & Landing Gear" Scare
- Record at the time: 32-46 (last place in AL East)
- Situation: Flying from Denver to Boston for a series vs. Yankees
- What happened: Plane took off, had hydraulics and landing gear problems, returned to Denver 34 minutes later
- Resolution: Switched to a new plane, took off ~5.5 hours after original departure
- Result on field: Swept the Yankees in 4 games
2. July 9 — The "Grounded for a Full Day" Ordeal
- Record at the time: On a 6-game winning streak after sweeping White Sox
- Situation: Supposed to fly to New York to play the Mets that evening
- What happened: Multiple mechanical issues kept them on the ground almost 24 hours
- Resolution: Finally took off Friday afternoon, arrived at Citi Field at 5:05 PM
- Extra drama: Game delayed 36 minutes to wait for the team
- Result on field: Swept the Mets, took 9-game winning streak into All-Star Break
3. August 3 (Sunday) — The Latest Delay
- Record at the time: 28-5 in last 33 games, just swept the defending champs (Dodgers)
- Situation: Flying home after Sunday night win in LA
- What happened: Mechanical issue delayed departure 5 hours 2 minutes
- Good news: Next game isn’t until Tuesday at 7:10 PM ET at home vs. White Sox — so no game delay this time
The Weird Pattern: Plane Breaks → Team Gets Hot
| Date | Record Before | Plane Issue | What Happened Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 24 | 32-46 (last place) | Hydraulics/landing gear failure | 4-game sweep of Yankees |
| July 9 | 6-game win streak | Grounded ~24 hours | Swept Mets, 9-game streak |
| Aug 3 | 28-5 in last 33 | 5+ hour delay | ??? (Next game Tuesday) |
Important Point: The Red Sox were struggling badly before the first plane issue. Since then? They’ve been one of the best teams in baseball.
Why This Matters (Even If You’re Not a Baseball Fan)
- Travel is brutal in MLB — teams fly constantly, often late at night, across time zones
- Charter planes aren’t commercial airlines — they’re older aircraft, less redundancy when things break
- Sleep & recovery matter — sitting on a tarmac for 5+ hours messes with players’ bodies
- The mental game — most teams would crumble; the Red Sox are using it as fuel
Summary
- Third plane mechanical issue since June 24
- Latest delay: 5 hours 2 minutes after sweeping the Dodgers
- Previous two delays led to two sweeps and a 9-game winning streak
- Team record since first issue: 28-5 in last 33 games
- Next game: Tuesday vs. White Sox at home — plenty of recovery time
The Red Sox are turning travel nightmares into rallying cries. Whether it’s superstition, adrenaline, or just a really good team finally clicking — don’t bet against them when the plane finally lands.
FAQ
Q: Are charter planes less safe than commercial flights?
A: Not necessarily "unsafe" — they’re maintained to FAA standards. But they’re often older planes with fewer backup systems, so mechanical issues ground them more often.
Q: Why doesn’t MLB just use commercial flights?
A: Teams need flexibility (late games, extra innings), privacy, equipment transport, and synchronized schedules. Charters are the only practical option.
Q: Has any other team had this many plane problems?
A: It’s rare to have three in six weeks. Most teams might have one per season, if that.
Q: Could the delays actually help the team bond?
A: Absolutely. Shared adversity — especially stuck on a plane together — can build chemistry. The Red Sox call it "team building" (half-jokingly).
Q: What happens if a team can’t get to a game?
A: MLB has rules for "travel delays" — games can be delayed (like the 36-minute Mets delay) or, in extreme cases, postponed and rescheduled as a doubleheader.
