Air Force Two, which is carrying Vice President Mike Pence, returned to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport shortly after taking off Tuesday night.>> Download the free WMUR appThe vice president had held a rally earlier in the day in Gilford.Sources told WMUR that the plane landed safely before 7:30 p.m. The plane returned to the airport after a bird strike, according to a pool report.”Earlier this evening Air Force 2 experienced a possible bird strike shortly after departure. Flight crew contacted the tower & returned to MHT safely. MHT rescue/firefighting were at staging areas per our response protocols. No impact to the airfield, we remain in full operation,” officials with Manchester-Boston Regional Airport said in a statement.After the plane returned, crews were seen inspecting one of the plane’s engines. The vice president initially stepped off the plane for a few moments before going back into the plane, pool reporters said. Pence then deplaned and walked under the plane to the opposite side to examine the engine with the crews. Pool reporters said the vice president and his staff boarded a separate plane back to Joint Base Andrews. >> VIDEO: Watch video of the plane as it collided with a birdAccording to the Federal Aviation Administration, 39 strikes — 97% of which are collisions with birds — are reported daily.
Air Force Two, which is carrying Vice President Mike Pence, returned to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport shortly after taking off Tuesday night.
>> Download the free WMUR app
The vice president had held a rally earlier in the day in Gilford.
Sources told WMUR that the plane landed safely before 7:30 p.m. The plane returned to the airport after a bird strike, according to a pool report.
“Earlier this evening Air Force 2 experienced a possible bird strike shortly after departure. Flight crew contacted the tower & returned to MHT safely. MHT rescue/firefighting were at staging areas per our response protocols. No impact to the airfield, we remain in full operation,” officials with Manchester-Boston Regional Airport said in a statement.
After the plane returned, crews were seen inspecting one of the plane’s engines. The vice president initially stepped off the plane for a few moments before going back into the plane, pool reporters said.
Pence then deplaned and walked under the plane to the opposite side to examine the engine with the crews.
Pool reporters said the vice president and his staff boarded a separate plane back to Joint Base Andrews.
>> VIDEO: Watch video of the plane as it collided with a bird
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, 39 strikes — 97% of which are collisions with birds — are reported daily.
