United States vice presidential candidate Mike Pence’s campaign plane slid off the runway as it landed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Thursday evening.
The governor of Indiana, who was returning from a campaign event in Iowa, was not hurt in the bumpy landing.
There were 37 people on the plane, including the candidate, journalists and campaign staff, when it skidded off the runway at around 7.50 pm during a heavy downpour.
Emergency crews were on site but no injuries were reported.
Witnesses say the plane made such a hard landing that mud splashed up on the plane windshield, and the pilot slammed on his brakes so hard that the passengers could smell burning rubber.
The rough landing even tore up the tarmac along the LaGuardia runway.
Pence has since tweeted to let his supporters know he is safe.
“So thankful everyone on our plane is safe,” he wrote. “Grateful for our first responders and the concern and prayers of so many. Back on the trail tomorrow!”
At the time of the incident, Trump was in Ohio, where he later addressed a rally in Geneva and briefly referenced the close call.
“I just spoke to our future vice president, and he’s OK. Do you know he was in a big accident with the plane?” Trump said. “Everybody’s fine. But what a great decision it was to get Mike Pence. What a great guy he is. What a great job he’s doing.”
Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton also offered her regards via Twitter as well, writing, “Glad to hear @mike_pence, his staff, secret service, and the crew are all safe. -H”.”
Image: Men inspect a campaign plane that had been carrying US Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence after it skidded off the runway while landing in the rain at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
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