The Knicks’ title celebration didn’t stop when they left the arena — it followed them onto the team’s charter flight home to New York.
Hours after securing the franchise’s first championship in 53 years, the team kept the party going aboard a Delta charter departing San Antonio, according to newly released air traffic control audio.
In the recording, an air traffic controller clearing the flight for takeoff takes a moment to send his congratulations. “And if you can, tell those guys congratulations, enjoy the moment,” he says.
One of the pilots responds that the message would be well received — and that the celebration was impossible to miss. “Oh, they’re enjoying it back there; you probably can hear them,” the pilot says, with loud cheering audible in the background. “They’re having a good time, we’ll pass it on.”
The pilot then adds a vivid detail that summed up the mood on board: “The plane’s rocking, they’re having a party.”
The controller joked that he wanted to get his well wishes in before the players “fell asleep,” but rest clearly was not the priority for the newly crowned NBA champions.
As the team approached Westchester County Airport hours later, the flight was cleared for a scenic view of New York City which included flying over the Verrazzano Bridge and up the Hudson River.
That’s when another controller relayed a congratulatory message from all the local air traffic controllers.
“Please let the guys know, New York TRACON, LaGuardia tower, Kennedy tower, maybe even Newark tower and Westchester tower, we’re all running on about three or four hours of sleep but as happy as we could ever be,” the controller said. “Congrats.”
“They finally settled down about 30 minutes ago but before that, it was a pretty excited bunch back here,” the pilot replied.
“I believe we’re all excited here, we’re on our second box of coffee this morning,” the controller added.
“Go New York.”
New Yorkers across the city celebrated the Knicks’ win over the San Antonio Spurs all of Saturday night and into the wee hours of Sunday morning.
While there were 63 arrests stemming from some violent celebrations, the city became a sea of orange-and-blue bliss with some committing to naming their newborns after Knicks stars and a bus driver dancing with fans.
A parade is set for Manhattan on Thursday.
The Knicks landed back in New York after a roughly four-hour flight and were quickly given a heroes’ welcome, and even received a water cannon salute on the tarmac after landing, according to Front Office Sports.
