Air traffic controllers took heat once again Tuesday after a White House plane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama had to abort its landing at Andrews Air Force Base after it came “dangerously close” to a 200-ton C-17 military cargo plane, according to the Washington Post.
The First Lady was returning to Washington from a television appearance on a Boeing 737.
Air traffic controllers apparently allowed the 737 to get too close to the C-17, which was also approaching Andrews. The controllers had the 737 perform a series of maneuvers to build some distance with the C-17, but that failed to achieve its goal. When it became apparent that the C-17, which was landing first, would not clear the runway in time for the 737 to land safely, the First Lady’s plane was ordered to abort its landing approach.
The 737 circled the airport and landed safely.
No one was hurt.
Leave a Reply