Donnie Wahlberg has reassured followers that he and his fellow passengers were safe after a private jet went beyond a runway during an attempted departure from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on October 18, 2026. The actor and New Kids on the Block singer described the experience in an Instagram video, explaining that the aircraft never became airborne. Airport officials confirmed that a general aviation aircraft had left Runway 1L and struck a perimeter fence at approximately 11 a.m. They initially reported no known injuries, while emergency personnel responded to the aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Dassault Falcon 50 scheduled to fly to Toronto Pearson International Airport. According to the FAA’s initial account, eight people were aboard when the crew abandoned the takeoff and the jet went off the runway. The agency said it would investigate. Aviation International News also reported that the aircraft’s operator had begun an internal review and that the National Transportation Safety Board was investigating. The reason for the rejected takeoff had not been established in those reports.
A recording circulating online appeared to capture a crew member repeating, “Aborting. Aborting,” followed by communication about emergency assistance. People reported that the controller confirmed emergency vehicles were responding and asked whether anyone was injured. The brief exchange documents the urgency of the response, but it does not explain why the pilots stopped the departure. Reports discussing the recording did not establish the aircraft’s actual speed or identify a confirmed mechanical problem. Those questions remain separate from the passengers’ descriptions of what they experienced.
In his video, Wahlberg credited the pilots with avoiding nearby trucks, heavy equipment, and dumpsters before the aircraft stopped at the fence. He described the experience as intense and thanked both the flight crew and emergency workers. His account emphasized that the aircraft had sustained damage while those aboard were unharmed. Wahlberg explained that he had initially recorded the message for friends and family, then shared it publicly after receiving concerned messages. His wife, Jenny McCarthy, also expressed gratitude following the news.
The runway overrun temporarily affected operations at the airport. Runways 1L and 1R closed for inspection, and a ground stop contributed to flight delays before both runways reopened later that day. Wahlberg had performed with New Kids on the Block in Las Vegas the previous evening. Although his public message offered reassurance about the people aboard, it did not resolve the technical questions surrounding the departure. As investigators examine what happened, the confirmed immediate outcome remains that the jet was damaged and no injuries were reported.