Nationals Return To Hero's Welcome At Dulles Airport

It was a hero's return for the Washington Nationals at Dulles International Airport on Thursday.

Two fire trucks blasted a water salute as the team's plane taxied on the runway, and that was just the start.

The door to the airplane flew open, and a huge Nationals flag emerged followed by Ryan Zimmerman holding the Commissioner's Trophy to cheers from the small crowd of onlookers permitted on the tarmac.

The water cannon salute for the @Nationals here at @Dulles_Airport @WTOP #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/DJE6KIYUv8
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) October 31, 2019

OUR #WORLDSERIES CHAMPIONS ARE HOME! (And yes, the trophy is already busted.) We love you, @Nationals!#FightFinished pic.twitter.com/VJPrFgFFQI
— ABC 7 News - WJLA (@ABC7News) October 31, 2019

Sean Doolittle made quite an exit, wielding a glowing neon blue light saber as descended the stairs as dusk fell on the D.C. area on Halloween night.

Doolittle and his lightsaber! @WTOP #Nats pic.twitter.com/rnueX7auOZ
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) October 31, 2019

The Nationals will be celebrated on the National Mall with a parade on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.

The scene on the plane certainly looked like one of happiness and relief. Ryan Zimmerman and his wife certainly looked that way as they posed for a photo with the trophy that was shared on social media.

This is Washington's first World Series championship since 1924, and the first for the Washington Nationals franchise -- or the franchise that came before it, the Montreal Expos.

It certainly wasn't a guaranteed celebration for the Nats. The team looked to be at the end of their rope several times during the World Series, going up 2-0 only to get dominated in all three games in D.C. They were down 2-0 in the 7th inning of Game 7 when home runs from Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick dramatically changed their fortunes.