Donnie Wahlberg uninjured after private jet skids off Las Vegas runway

Actor and musician Donnie Wahlberg has spoken out after surviving a terrifying runway excursion in Nevada, where a private jet carrying the celebrity and his entourage ran out of tarmac during a failed departure attempt and crashed directly into a perimeter fence. The harrowing incident unfolded on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, sparking a swift emergency response, temporary operational pauses, and widespread relief among fans and family members alike.

The flight, which was bound for Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada, attempted to depart mid-morning on Sunday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot of the Dassault Falcon 50 aborted takeoff shortly before 11 a.m. Local time. The aircraft failed to gain altitude, ran out of usable runway, and careened off the tarmac, ultimately striking a security fence.

Wahlberg took to social media to address concerned well-wishers, sharing an update from the tarmac via Instagram. The Blue Bloods star and Wahlburgers co-owner described an intense sequence of events that stretched out for what felt like several minutes. He credited the flight crew with averting a catastrophic outcome, pointing out that the skilled maneuvers of the pilots steered the aircraft away from heavy equipment, trucks, and dumpsters situated near the perimeter.

"These pilots saved our lives and God covered us because we were — I'm not sure how many fences we avoided but we didn't avoid the last one but we avoided those trucks and heavy equipment and the dumpsters behind that,"

Donnie Wahlberg, passenger, via Yahoo News

Wahlberg had been in Las Vegas for the final performance of the New Kids on the Block residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Following the Saturday night show, the singer and his team boarded the midsize business jet on Sunday morning. In total, eight individuals were on board the aircraft when the emergency unfolded.

Airport officials confirmed that the incident impacted local flight operations. Monika Bertaki, a spokesperson for Harry Reid International Airport, noted that the mishap prompted a brief operational pause as safety crews inspected the grounds. According to reporting from the Associated Press, the FAA temporarily paused planned incoming flights, while runways 1R and 1L were closed for formal safety inspections. Travelers experienced brief delays before standard operations resumed.

The federal agency has officially opened an inquiry to determine the exact mechanical or operational factors that caused the takeoff to be aborted. Ground emergency personnel received high praise from the celebrity passenger for their rapid arrival and professionalism.

"The airplane did take some lumps — but we did not. Thank you to all the emergency personnel on the ground in Las Vegas! You all were absolutely wonderful,"

Donnie Wahlberg, passenger, via Instagram

As federal investigators sift through flight data and inspect the damaged Dassault Falcon 50, aviation authorities will work to piece together why the jet could not achieve lift-off within the runway parameters. For now, passengers and crew have emerged unscathed, leaving behind a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of private aviation travel. Further updates regarding the FAA probe are expected as the investigation continues.