WASHINGTON — Air Force One aborted a landing Wednesday morning in Connecticut, as poor visibility forced the plane carrying President Barack Obama to circle around before landing safely.
Obama was en route to deliver a graduation speech at the Coast Guard Academy when reporters on the ground saw his familiar blue and white 747 abort its first attempt at landing at the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, Conn.
"The pilot was in the process of landing, but due to weather the pilot decided to circle around and then landed the plane, "White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said."This is a standard and safe procedure."
Air Force One landed on the second attempt, at 10:05 a.m. EDT. The president exited the plane at 10:14 am. He walked across the tarmac to greet well-wishers, without commenting on the fly-around.
His motorcade left moments later for the Coast Guard Academy.
On April 19, a plane carrying first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, had to abort a landing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility in Maryland when it came too close to a plane that was landing ahead of it. Their aircraft also circled the base once, then landed safely.
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