Posted on 04/19/2011 2:50:28 PM PDT by traumer
A White House plane carrying Michelle Obama came dangerously close to a 200-ton military cargo jet and had to abort its landing at Joint Base Andrews on Monday as the result of an air traffic controllers mistake, according to federal officials familiar with the incident.
Ultimately controllers at Andrews feared the cargo jet would not clear the runway in time, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak for their agencies.
FAA officials confirmed that the first lady was aboard the plane but had no additional immediate comment. They expected to release a statement later Tuesday. The first ladys office also had no immediate comment.
The Federal Aviation Administration, already dealing with a series of controversies involving controllers sleeping and watching a movie on the job, sent a team of investigators Tuesday to the Warrenton radar control center, where the mistake was made.
The first lady was returning from a television appearance and other events with Jill Biden in New York and was aboard a Boeing 737 that is part of the presidential fleet of jets when the error occurred on final approach to Andrews.
The controllers in the tower at Andrews recognized that the massive C-17 and the Obama flight, designated EXEC1F, a classification for a plane carrying members of the presidents family, were far too close when the Warrenton controller handed off responsibility for the two aircraft.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“Obama” and “Abort” in the same sentence seems to have many meanings.....
Unfortunately some of the the things she bought on this shopping trip, errr television appearance were jostled during the event.
How did the Captain of this craft allow the cargo weight to be so close?
Wouldn't the 600-ton military cargo jet that transports Michelle have won out in any such collision?
“Obama and Abort in the same sentence seems to have many meanings.....”
Nicely done
I do wonder though if they might have over reacted
I heard that the Airforce call sign for any plane carring the first lady is the “Millenium Falcon”.
So was the grifter on a private shopping trip on the taxpayer dole?
Damn, foiled again.
She is a biggun, ain't she?
More than likely.
“I’ll take ‘taking off in the first place’ for $1000, Alex.”
LMAO!!!!
Was the controller watching Jeopardy?
The military transport was carrying Michelle’s luggage.
The C5-B was not available.
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