USC's football team, coaches and staff endured several terrifying minutes as their chartered flight to South Bend plummeted amid a severe thunderstorm.

About 125 people, including 82 players, coach Pete Carroll and most of the coaching staff were on the plane for the trip from California to Indiana for tomorrow's game.

The pilot aborted the approach to the South Bend airport about 9 last night and circled around the storm before landing without incident about 20 minutes later.

Some passengers were thrown from their seats by turbulence as lightning cracked around the plane.

Quarterback John David Booty says it wasn't the worst flight he has been on, but it was the biggest drop.