Republican VP pick Mike Pence’s plane slides off airport runway
Oct 27, 2016, 5:12 PM | Updated: Oct 28, 2016, 6:27 am
Republican presidential candidate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's campaign airplane sits partially on the tarmac and the grass after sliding off the runway while landing at LaGuardia airport, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
PHOENIX — Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence’s plane slid off the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Thursday.
Pence told reporters that no one had been injured.
“We can see mud on the front windows,” a calm Pence said in the press cabin about a minute after the plane came to rest. He said he felt fine.
Video after Pence campaign plane skids off runway at LaGuardia–> pic.twitter.com/BIKLTWSDGQ
— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) October 28, 2016
Pence was flying to New York from Iowa, where he spoke at a campaign event in Fort Dodge.
A ground hold at Laguardia led to some football on the tarmac in Iowa. #GameOn pic.twitter.com/Xo89ozpQyB
— Mike Pence (@mike_pence) October 27, 2016
During a ground hold at LaGuardia Airport, @mike_pence plays football on the tarmac in Iowa š (Video via @ElizLanders) pic.twitter.com/rR65RQ1jsZ
— CNN (@CNN) October 27, 2016
LaGuardia was closed soon after the incident.
Due to a plane skidding off the runway, #LaGuardia is currently closed until further notice. Check with your airline for additional info.
— NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) October 28, 2016
A video posted to Twitter showed LaGuardia’s runway was damaged.
Video shows damaged Tarmac at LaGuardia Airport in NY after campaign plane with Mike Pence on board skids off runway https://t.co/2NsFqSyvC7 pic.twitter.com/qzabsjwXKS
— ABC News (@ABC) October 28, 2016
In Geneva, Ohio, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump told his supporters that Pence had come “pretty close to grave, grave danger.” But, he added: “I just spoke to Mike Pence and he’s fine. Everybody’s fine.”
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reached out on Twitter.
Glad to hear @mike_pence, his staff, Secret Service, and the crew are all safe. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 28, 2016
Pence is scheduled to attend two campaign ralliesĀ on Friday: One in Bensalem, Penn. and another in Smithfield, N.C. It is unknown if the plane slide will affect his schedule.
Some delays were reported at LaGuardia on Thursday. All were weather-related. The forecast called for rain that will continue into Friday morning.
Campaign spokesman Marc Loetter told reporters that Pence had missed his fundraiser in New York City and was headed to his hotel for the night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
