Lionel Messi, teammates evacuated by helicopter after crowds swarm team bus

Millions of people took to the streets of Buenos Aires Tuesday to celebrate Argentina’s World Cup title, disrupting a planned parade route and forcing Lionel Messi and his teammates to abandon an open-top bus to instead fly over the city in helicopters.

The football-crazed country has been overwhelmed with jubilant celebrations since Sunday when Argentina beat France for its third World Cup title, and first in 36 years.

After crowds swarmed the team bus upon arrival at 3am at the airport, the planned trip through the city at midday was interrupted with at least four million people in the streets, according to reports.

A video shared on social media showed a fan dropping from a bridge onto the team bus carrying Messi with another missing the vehicle and falling into the crowd.

Around the same time, Chiqui Tapia, the head of the Football Association, said they were unable to continue by bus and apologised to supporters who turned out early.

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Enzo Fernandez, a midfielder on the team, posted a picture of himself in a helicopter with a headset on and a presidential spokeswoman confirmed the players were flying over the crowds since the roads were clogged due to the “explosion of happiness.”

After President Alberto Fernandez decreed a national holiday for the celebrations, wild scenes broadcast on local TV have shown people filling highway bridges, climbing light posts and vehicles while singing and waving shirts and flags in the nation of 46 million.

The poor planning and security failure to protect the team bus is likely to prompt finger-pointing in the aftermath.