A group of five jockeys heading to the prestigious Glorious Goodwood meeting had a harrowing experience when their plane had to make an emergency landing due to engine trouble. The jockeys, Rowan Scott, Callum Rodriguez, PJ McDonald, Tom Eaves, and Jack Garritty, had chartered a light aircraft to travel from Yorkshire to West Sussex for the event but had to turn back mid-flight.
Rowan Scott, scheduled to ride in two races at Goodwood, recounted the nerve-wracking experience of one of the plane’s engines failing during the flight. The pilot skillfully managed to bring the aircraft back to Bagby Airfield near Thirsk, but not without another scare as something detached from the engine and struck the plane.
Despite the tense situation, the pilot remained composed, ensuring the safe return of the jockeys. The journey by road from Bagby to Goodwood is a lengthy 286 miles, prompting many northern-based jockeys to opt for air travel to reach the event.
Rowan Scott and his fellow passengers expressed relief at landing safely but admitted to feeling shaken up by the incident. Scott’s agent, Niall Hannity, praised the pilot’s experience and calm demeanor during the emergency, emphasizing the importance of the jockeys’ safety above all else.
Following this unsettling experience, Rowan Scott humorously remarked that it was his first and last time flying in a private plane. The jockeys missed their scheduled rides at Goodwood for the day but were grateful to have returned safely after the unexpected turn of events.
