NRL Las Vegas launch hits a massive snag as plane carrying the game’s top bosses forced to turn around and land back in Sydney
A chartered Qantas flight carrying Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo to Las Vegas has been forced to turn around due to an issue with the air conditioning.
Qantas flight 337 took off at 3.20pm on Tuesday for the 13-hour trip to the American city but returned to Sydney Airport shortly after 5.20pm.
Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman V’landys and NRL chief executive Abdo were aboard, along with other NRL management staff, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Newcastle CEO Peter Parr was also said to be on the flight, along with members of the media and a host of Knights fans.
After the plane had returned to Sydney, it was revealed that the flight was set to take off again at around 6.30pm on Tuesday evening.
A flight taking Peter V’landys (left) and Andrew Abdo (right) to Las Vegas was forced to return to Sydney Airport
It is understood that the plane spent one hour in the air before it was forced to return to Sydney due to an air conditioning issue
The NRL’s Las Vegas extravaganza is in full swing, with fans flocking to Sin City to watch this weekend’s season-opening matches.
Newcastle will begin their 2026 campaign against the Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. The Canterbury Bulldogs will then take on St George Illawarra Dragons later in the evening, with Super League champions Hull KR also due to take on Leeds Rhinos earlier in the day.
Many NRL executives are expected to be in town, for what promises to be a blockbuster weekend of action.
The annual excursion has become a major marketing and corporate event for rugby league bosses, with V’landys and Abdo set to meet multiple executives from clubs not playing this weekend.
The Sydney Morning Herald claims that bosses from all of the Roosters, Eels and Sharks are in town for the footy extravaganza, while bosses from the NRL’s newest franchise, the Papua New Guinea Chiefs, are also set to be in Vegas.
More to come…
