On August 16, 2024, a Boeing 737 carrying Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance made an emergency landing at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport due to a door seal malfunction. The plane, known as ‘Trump Force Two,’ was en route to Cincinnati when the pilot declared an emergency and returned to Milwaukee.Taylor Van Kirk, a spokeswoman for Vance, stated, “The pilot advised there was a malfunction with the door seal. After declaring an emergency, Trump Force Two returned to Milwaukee”. The issue was resolved within an hour, allowing the flight to resume its original path to Cincinnati.Vance was traveling with his wife, their dog Atlas, campaign staff, and a group of reporters at the time of the incident. The pilot later apologized to passengers for causing “elevated heart rates” during the emergency.This incident follows a series of aviation issues involving planes associated with the Trump campaign. Just last week, former President Donald Trump’s plane was diverted to Billings, Montana, due to a mechanical issue while en route to a rally. Earlier this year, Trump’s Boeing 757 clipped a parked plane while taxiing at a Florida airport.The recurring technical problems have raised concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance, particularly given the age of some of the planes involved. Vance’s flight was on a 22-year-old Boeing 737-800 model.These incidents come at a time when Boeing faces increased scrutiny over the assembly process of its 737 Max aircraft, following a midair blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight earlier this year that left a hole in the fuselage.Despite the alarming nature of the incident, no injuries were reported, and the swift resolution of the issue allowed Vance to continue his campaign activities with minimal disruption.
Key points
- JD Vance’s campaign plane made an emergency landing in Milwaukee due to a door seal malfunction.
- This incident is part of a series of aviation issues involving planes associated with the Trump campaign.
- The recurring technical problems have raised concerns about aircraft safety and maintenance, particularly given the age of some planes involved.
