Former US President Donald Trump’s plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Billings, Montana, on August 9, 2024, due to a mechanical issue while en route to a campaign rally in Bozeman. The aircraft landed safely at Billings Logan International Airport, approximately 142 miles east of the original destination.Jenny Mockel, an administrative assistant at the Billings airport, confirmed that Trump continued his journey to Bozeman on a private jet. Despite the unexpected detour, Trump’s campaign team released a video of him after landing, in which he expressed his happiness to be in Montana but made no mention of the diversion.The rally, scheduled for 8 PM local time at Montana State University’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, was organized in support of Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester in the upcoming November election. This visit to Montana also addressed some unfinished business from Trump’s 2018 campaign, when he unsuccessfully attempted to unseat Senator Tester.This incident occurs amid Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, where he is running as the Republican nominee. Recent polls show Trump trailing expected Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by 5%. The US presidential election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.Montana is considered a safe Republican state, having not elected a Democratic president since Bill Clinton in 1992. However, Trump’s appearance aims to boost GOP support in the state, particularly for the Senate race.
Key points
- Donald Trump’s plane was diverted to Billings, Montana, due to a mechanical issue while en route to a campaign rally in Bozeman.
- Trump continued his journey to Bozeman on a private jet and is expected to hold the rally as scheduled.
- The rally aims to support Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy against incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Tester.
- This event is part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, with the election scheduled for November 5, 2024.
Contradictions👾Some sources report the distance between Billings and Bozeman as 142 miles, while others state it as 150 miles or 240 kilometers.
👾There are conflicting reports about Trump’s reaction to the incident, with some sources stating he did not mention it, while others claim he addressed it indirectly.