Bringing World Cup Winners To Newark Airport Was No Small Feat

NEWARK, NJ — What does it take to turn the tarmac at Newark Airport into an impromptu welcome back party for Team USA? A red carpet, a water cannon, oodles of banners, hundreds of bicycle racks, detailed security plans… and some serious elbow grease.

After their thrilling victory over the Netherlands in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team returned to the U.S. through Newark Airport in New Jersey on Monday.

• See related article: World Cup Champs Return To USA, Get Cheers At Newark Airport

While it was well-worth the effort, it wasn’t an easy feat to prepare the airport for their arrival, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Altogether, it took cooperation between Newark Airport maintenance and operations teams, Port Authority police, Newark Airport security officers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, aircraft charter operator ACC Aviation, and UPS, which handled the flight.

Preparations – which began around 3 p.m. – included:

• Notifying airport stakeholders
• Coordinating efforts between agencies
• Drafting security plans
• Printing, ordering and hanging congratulatory banners
• Delivering a press riser for news media
• Setting up hundreds of bicycle racks

When the team landed around 4:30 p.m., airport crews welcomed them home with a salute from a high-pressure water cannon sprayed in arches over the plane. About 30 minutes later, the airplane door opened. Soon, Queen’s “We Are The Champions” began to play.

And the rest – including the team’s enthusiastic celebration on the red carpet – is history (see below videos).

Read the Port Authority’s full account of the celebration.

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