Mechanical Problem Forces Obama Plane to Land

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: NYT/Reuters

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Barack Obama's plane landed unexpectedly in St. Louis on Monday after experiencing a mechanical problem.

The pilot of the plane told passengers the problem had to do with "controllability of the pitch" before landing safely in St. Louis. As the plane was descending, the pilot said the problem had been fixed. "We have full authority of the aircraft," the pilot said.

Obama, an Illinois Democrat, was on his way from Chicago to Charlotte, North Carolina, to give an economic speech.

The airplane, an MD-80, is a substitute for the usual plane used by the campaign, which is being overhauled before the November election against Republican John McCain.

"It was a precautionary move," said Linda Douglass, an Obama senior adviser.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-...

[markbark]

1. **DAMN** saith the BFEE

Couldn't quite get the "malfunction" up to a serious enough level....

--MAB

[RamboLiberal]

2. Whew - stay safe Barack - I worry about you

Whomever is flying you - make sure the planes are in top condition!

[Blaq Dem]

3. A substitute plane?

Hmm, interesting. I'm glad he's safe.

[LakeSamish706]

4. Anyone else here troubled by his upcoming planned Iraq trip?

Not liking that at all, and sure wish his advisers would call it off until after Jan 09.

[Tumbulu]

5. me too, me too ! (nt)

[Triana]

7. I am concerned about his Iraq trip. NO WAY IN HELL do I trust the BFEE...

...and Blackwater are mercenaries. It's what they DO. I am very concerned about him going to Iraq. I bet Michelle is too.

[RamboLiberal]

18. You better believe I'll be nervous

too many Blackwater mercs there and too many fundie military(ours)!

[Virginia Dare]

6. Shucks, my tinfoil hat never gets dusty...n/t

[islandmkl]

8. remember:

extra-heavy duty, shiny side out...

[bow-tie]

11. Keep it shined up

BFEE is responsible for Paul Wellstone, Carnahan, JFK, JFK Jr. and ANTRAX! Deny it, but deep down you know that anyone who plays politics like they do, and gets away with every illegal act done, why would they stop at assassination???
I won't even mention my theories on 9/11.

Our government has been taken over by the Walkers and Bushes and no-one has the courage to believe it. "It can't happen here". Well folks, it did, right in plain sight.

[The Doctor.]

13. What makes you think so?

Just curious.

[maddezmom]

9. CNN reporting he canceled his trip to Charlotte NC

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Thanks, maddezmom. I posted the advance report on the speech he was to make --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[defendandprotect]

12. We're all concerned because of the many quesitonable "plane"

downings over the decades ---

[DeepModem Mom]

14. MORE IN THIS ABC NEWS REPORT:

Obama's Campaign Plane Makes Unscheduled Landing

....While flying from Chicago to Charlotte, the pilot's first officer announced that they were experiencing "controllability issues" with the "pitch" of the MD-80, describing it as a "minor little problem" but significant enough to force the unscheduled stop.

Upon take off from Chicago in bad weather, the plane made an abnormally large dip and flight attendants hurriedly placed items in overhead compartments.

"We're doing O.K.!," Obama, D-Ill., said to the press after the incident, "A lot of excitement, huh? So everything is fine guys. Just thought we'd spice things up a little bit today. Don't you think?" When asked if he was worried at the time, Obama told his traveling press corps, "Anytime a pilot says that something's not working the way it's supposed to, then you know, you make sure you tighten your seat belt. Everything seemed under control, the pilots knew what they were doing."

The presumptive Democratic nominee was aboard the plane at the time of the incident along with 44 additional passengers, including nine campaign staffers, a number of journalists and a protective Secret Service detail.

The landing in St. Louis was relatively smooth and the campaign initially considered moving Obama to a private airplane terminal but changed plans upon protests from the press. The candidate was eventually moved to a nearby hotel with a small number of journalists traveling with him.

The campaign has since announced that they will cancel Obama's scheduled event in Charlotte.

While still aboard the plane on the St. Louis tarmac, Obama milled about the front of his cabin -- reading his blackberry and he spoke to the pilot briefly. Staff opened large trip binders and talked to him (as they do on the plane ride) presumably going over details of a trip or a speech. The candidate is calm, at one point turning around, put his hands up in a mocking type of fear, clearly downplaying the situation and poking fun at the press filming his every move.

Press are busy filing, phoning in stories and sending back video; according to the Obama campaign, mechanics are still "checking out the plane", which is not Obama's regular campaign plane. The private campaign plane he usually flies is in the process of undergoing renovations for the general election.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/obamas-...

LINK TO VIDEO OF OBAMA ON THE PLANE AFTER LANDING: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5322779

[aldo]

15. Oh, oh, was this a reach out and touch moment for the Powers Behind the Curtain?

I recall Vice President Gore's plane diving to avoid an Air Force fighter. Murder Inc. likes its puppets to stay in their place.

[chelsea0011]

16. Is MSM reporting the diversion to St. Louis a flip flop?

[bertman]

17. I heard it was Arnold Schwarzenegger stuck in the landing gear.

Yaaahhh.

[WhiteTara]

19. I hate MD80s

They sound like a rubber band is being wound up...a terrible buzz and they don't have a very good reputation. Who could forget Alaska Airlines MD80 crash