Former President Donald Trump’s plane had to make an unexpected detour on Friday, making an emergency landing in Billings, Montana, due to a mechanical issue.
The plane was en route to Bozeman Airport, where Trump was scheduled to hold a rally, but had to change course mid-flight. Despite the setback, Trump is now expected to take a private plane to Bozeman to ensure he makes it to the rally on time.
Local news station KTVH provided some details about the incident, with photos and videos showing Trump’s plane landing safely in Billings and being taxied on the runway. According to the Billings Airport, the mechanical issue prompted the emergency landing, and Secret Service agents have been conducting a thorough sweep of the airport as they prepare for Trump’s next flight.
JUST IN: Donald Trump’s plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Billings, Montana due to a mechanical issue.
The plane was headed to the Bozeman Airport where Trump is holding a rally when it was forced to change course.
Trump is now expected to take a private… pic.twitter.com/I0xm7BNWYv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 9, 2024
This incident comes at a time when concerns about Trump’s safety are particularly heightened. Just last month, Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The event has sparked a lot of discussion about the state of political discourse in the U.S. and has led to bipartisan calls for increased security around presidential candidates.
The assassination attempt has also led to significant scrutiny of the Secret Service, particularly under the leadership of former Director Kimberly Cheatle, who resigned shortly after a contentious congressional hearing.
During the hearing, Cheatle faced tough questions about the Secret Service’s handling of Trump’s security, including reports that Trump’s campaign had been denied additional staffing requests despite receiving death threats.
One of the key issues under investigation is how the Secret Service coordinated with local law enforcement to secure the perimeter of the Butler rally. There are ongoing questions about why the building from which the gunman fired wasn’t included in the security zone and why Secret Service agents were not stationed on the roof of the building due to concerns about its sloped incline.
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