Delta gets stranded Nigerian team to Olympics

With some luck and last-minute scrambling, Delta Air Lines managed to step in at the eleventh hour to fly the Nigerian men's soccer team to Brazil in time for its first match in the Olympics Thursday evening.

Delta said it got a call late Wednesday and initially determined it couldn’t accommodate the team on regular flights without displacing other passengers.

But the airline discovered it had an NBA charter plane available to fly the group of more than 30 people, and arranged to fly the team "with no request for payment," according to Delta.

To read more about how the Nigerian soccer team ended up grounded and why there were few other options available to get the athletes to Brazil, get the full story on MyAJC.com.

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

About the Author

Sam Lilley died in the D.C. plane crash. His family is demanding change.

The family of Sam Lilley, the co-pilot of a January flight that collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., has become respected advocates for air safety.

Rivian to help train next generation of engineers with Georgia universities

Electric vehicle startup Rivian announced Thursday five education partnerships and sponsorships across Georgia — all focused on technical training and emerging technologies.

Watch out for these busy days at the Atlanta airport this holiday season

The weekends before and after next week’s Christmas holiday are looking like the busiest air travel days at the Atlanta airport.

The Latest

Credit: TNS

That low car payment could cost you more in the long run. A lot more.

OPINION

Nissan’s e-Power: An EV driving experience, fueled by gas

OPINION

December car sales are good but not magic

Featured

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Drugs, Tasers, restraint: Dozens die in Georgia police custody

Thirty-one deaths in Georgia occurred in the past decade as law enforcement officers used restraint methods on suspects.

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

5 takeaways from Fani Willis’ state Senate testimony

The Fulton County district attorney clashed with Republican state senators as she defended her work on a now dismissed election interference case.

Georgia loses 190,000 enrollees in first steps of 2026 ACA enrollment

Expiring pandemic-era federal subsidies are set to spike premiums for some enrollees.