by John McCormick, updated with Midwest Airlines and NTSB statements
Barack Obama is going to spend a lot of time in the battleground state of Missouri between now and November. This morning, he's spending some extra, unexpected time there.
Obama's interim campaign plane, a chartered MD-81, made an unscheduled stop in St. Louis today after taking off from Chicago's Midway Airport. The plane had been headed to Charlotte, N.C., but was diverted to Missouri because of a maintenance issue.
The Associated Press, which always travels with Obama, provided the dispatch linked here on the incident.
"Well, you know, anytime a pilot says something's not working the way it's supposed to, you know, you make sure you tighten your seat belt," Obama said after the unexpected landing. "Everything seemed under control. The pilots knew what they were doing."
Jen Psaki, the traveling press secretary, provided the following statement from Midwest Airlines:
"An emergency slide located in the tail cone of the plane deployed in flight. While there was never an issue as to the safety of the flight, as a precautionary measure, we decided to divert the plane to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, where it landed just before 10 a.m. CDT. We are in the process of making alternative travel arrangements for Senator Obama and his campaign."
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident, also issued a statement:
"At about 9:30 a.m. CDT this morning, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81 airplane (N804ME), operated by Midwest Airlines as Flight 8663, diverted to St. Louis, Missouri, during a flight from Chicago, Illinois to Charlotte, North Carolina," the statement said. "There were no injuries to the 48 passengers and crew."
The NTSB statement said the post-flight inspection of the airplane revealed an in-flight deployment of the aft emergency exit slide within the tail cone.
"Preliminary information indicate that the crew disconnected the autopilot during climbout from Chicago, while being vectored around thunderstorms, when they reportedly felt elevator control forces that were heavier than normal," the statement said. "They therefore elected to make a precautionary landing at St. Louis. After landing, it was learned that the aft emergency exit slide had deployed within the tail cone. The tail cone did not separate from the airplane."
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
STOP THE PRESSES!
Posted by: MJ | July 7, 2008 12:33 PM
Just on this page of The Swamp, and counting headlines where both are mentioned as 1/2 headline for each: 11 articles with "Obama" in the headline, versus 3 for McCain.
At almost 4-1, this is about an average day for The Obama Campaign Newsletter.
Posted by: Bruce | July 7, 2008 1:01 PM
Why do people complain about the swamp giving too much coverage to Obama? Just as talk radio courts the ditto heads, a Chicago newspaper will court a more liberal following because there are more liberals in Chicago and LA then conservatives. It is just the free market doing its job. I thought conservatives believed in the free market.
Posted by: Patrick | July 7, 2008 1:23 PM
I think the fact that Obama is a Senator representing Illinois plays a roll in the "enhanced" coverage of him over McCain. I personally can't stand either one of them.
Posted by: Hans | July 7, 2008 2:10 PM
I'm waiting for the AP report that Obama first calmed everyone down and said, "I'll rescue us." He then ran to the cockpit, took over the controls and steered the plane to safety. At the same time, he delivered the baby of a pregnant reporter and initiated a solar powered energy system to replace the plane's excessive carbon footprint. And then, he modestly said, "Aw shucks, t'weren't nothin."
Come on Swamp. If you're going to fawn over all this guy, you can do a lot more. I did.
Posted by: Danforth | July 7, 2008 2:36 PM
Posted by: Bruce | July 7, 2008 1:01 PM
I'll try to explain it so you can understand.
OBAMA IS FROM CHICAGO!!!!
I'm sure the Phoenix newspapers have more articles about McCain.
Posted by: syj | July 7, 2008 2:56 PM
Did Obama land the plane under sniper fire, blindfolded with one arm tied behind his back?
Posted by: Zara | July 7, 2008 3:00 PM
OBAMA IS FROM CHICAGO!!!!
I'm sure the Phoenix newspapers have more articles about McCain.
Posted by: syj | July 7, 2008 2:56 PM
I'l try to explain it to you so you can understand:
THE SWAMP APPEARS IN OVER HALF A DOZEN PAPERS' WEBSITES ACROSS THE NATION... INCLUDING ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA; LOS ANGELES AND BALTIMORE!! NOT JUST CHICAGO!!
FURTHERMORE, ONE WOULD THINK THAT A POLITICAL BLOG FOR A MAJOR NEWSPAPER CHAIN WOULD LOOK AT ALL POLITICIANS WITH HARD-NOSED OBJECTIVITY AND A GOOD DOSE OF SKEPTICISM!!
Or so one would think.
Posted by: MJ | July 7, 2008 3:48 PM
Ignore Bruce. The important thing is that everyone is safe and sound. I will even refrain from commenting on the Cubs vs. Cardinals, or that it was a McDonnell-Douglas plane returning 'home'.
Posted by: Tom J | July 7, 2008 4:39 PM
Hey MJ!
I, for one, did not know The Swamp was national. Take a chill, sit down, and stop.yelling.
Geez.
Posted by: Lisa M | July 7, 2008 4:41 PM
What the hell was the scare? Did it land with only 2 tires or was an engine on fire? Go overboard for Obama, The Swamp, that is nothing new. Anyway the way the Swamp writes is that his highness could probably land it himself since he is the chosen one for all of mankind.
Posted by: quills | July 7, 2008 5:02 PM
That's spooky. Presidents don't get scared like little babies.
Posted by: Phil | July 7, 2008 5:03 PM
But did he have to pay $15 for a checked bag? That would be the far bigger travesty!
Posted by: Eric Francque | July 7, 2008 5:12 PM
Saw a commercial for Obama while in Wisconsin this weekend. It spoke about all of the things he's done for IL and how great he is - what a crock!! Can't believe all of the lemmings following this media elected poser. Beam me up scotty!
Posted by: GF | July 7, 2008 5:16 PM
Lisa:
I was being, whatchcallit, sarcastical with the ALL CAPS and exclamation marks.
Posted by: MJ | July 7, 2008 5:32 PM
UNITED STATES DEMOCRACY RESTORED
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR AND HARVARD LAW SCHOLAR BARACK OBAMA TO ACCEPT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN FRONT OF AN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPER BOWL SIZE CROWD AT MILE HIGH STADIUM
DENVER – Breaking the mold of traditional political Conventions, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced that Senator Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High. INVESCO Field can accommodate more than 75,000 people and will be the site of the 2008 Democratic Convention’s final day of programming on Thursday, August 28, 2008.
The Democratic Party is nominating a true change candidate this August, and it is only fitting that we make some big changes in how we put on the Convention. Senator Obama’s candidacy has generated an enormous amount of excitement and interest in the Democratic, Republican and Independent Parties. By bringing the last night of the Convention out to the people, we will be able to showcase Barack Obama’s positive, people-centered vision for our country in a big way.
“Barack Obama’s campaign for change has inspired millions of Americans and brought people into the political process who might never have been involved. This change in the Convention program will allow thousands of first-time participants a chance to take part. I can’t think of a better Convention finale for our nominee who has made reaching out to voters a hallmark of his campaign.”
“When we said we wanted to ‘bring down the walls,’ open up this Convention like never before and truly speak to the American people, we meant it. On August 28, we will offer grassroots Americans, who have turned out in record numbers this year, the opportunity to witness history shoulder to shoulder with thousands of Americans standing up for the change our country desperately needs.”
Senator Obama and the DNCC have truly brought the community into the Convention. This decision will enable thousands of residents from Colorado, the Rocky Mountain West and across the nation to witness history first hand. What a way to fire up our grassroots activists as we head into the fall campaign.
This is the type of Convention Americans wish to experience together with family, friends and neighbors, and we hope this move enables thousands of Americans to come together, experience history and put Senator Obama on the path to victory in November. The citizens of the United States and the World welcome restoration of Democratic and Constitutional values by Constitutional Law Professor and Harvard Scholar Barack Obama.
Democrats left office with gasoline at $1.50 a gallon and oil at $24 a barrel.
GOP Republican takes office and raises gasoline to $4.50 a gallon and oil to $145 a barrel.
Which group loves America and which group loves money by any means?
Posted by: Democracy Restored | July 7, 2008 6:08 PM
Obama was NEVER a law professor. He was a LECTURER at the University of Chicago. Lecturers are the lowest rung on the academic ladder. Lecturers, then up to instructors, assistant professors, associate professors and professors. If he lied on his resume' at any time, he committed one of the big sins in the academy. So, what other misstatements are in the "democracy restored" blog?
Posted by: Chandra | July 7, 2008 10:32 PM
I think the price of gas has gone up all over the world!!! Maybe drilling for oil in the United States would be a smart move, but then the democratic congress is voting against that!!!
Posted by: Gidget | July 7, 2008 10:51 PM
Lies, lies, lies. What we're not being told is Bush - Cheney - Rumsfeld - McCain were behind the mechanical problems with Obama's plane. What they want to do is force the plane down so he gives his acceptance speech in a town having a population of 38 people, on a night that American Idol finals are on, so only 3 go to the speech. We need to impeach these 4 Texans as soon as possible so Obama can give his acceptance speech to 200,000,000 people packed into the Grand Canyon as planned.
Posted by: Hubert | July 7, 2008 11:17 PM
Anybody check for Dick Cheney's fingerprints?
The NY Times bloggers kind of pussy-footed around, hinting at vague conspiracies, so I thought I'd just come out and say what I'm sure anyone who suspected Cheney's involvement in Paul Wellstone's death would be thinking. (This may be what you consider "over the top" for publication, but I'd bet a perty that it's the first thing that crossed your mind.)
Cheney is hellbent on starting a third Muslim war in Iran, and I'm, sure Obama has the sense to spike that ASAP with whatever tools are currently at his command . He has enough of the Bush disaster to mop up as it is.
Al Maliki opened the door a mile wide to Obama to establish his foreign policy credentials today by proposing a "timetable" for US troops withdrawal. Obama's real test in this election will be how he handle's this hottest of hot potatoes when he visits our Arab occupied territory.
With these dynamics clearly pointing to the early dismantling of whatever illusory legacy the loyal Bushie's fantasize they may leave us, Mad Dog Dick can only be trusted to imagine the unimaginable.
Banjo Andy
Posted by: Andy Fahrenwald | July 7, 2008 11:25 PM
In her book HELL TO PAY Barbara Olson wrote, "The Clinton era is far from over and Hillary’s ambitions far from satisfied.” Ms. Olson was aboard American Airlines Flight 77, bound for Los Angeles as a guest on Bill Maher’s popular TV show, Politically Incorrect. Flight 77 was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon. Date: September 11, 2001. During her "suspended campaign,” Hillary Clinton is redoubling her efforts, removing obstacles, paving the way for her successful comeback. “I’ll be back.” According to KSDK-TV in St. Louis, The same plane [sans the “controllability issue”] was used by Hillary Clinton during the primaries, but after Obama clinched the nomination, he began using it. To borrow a phrase from Bill Clinton, “It ought to make the bells go off in your head:” http://theseedsof9-11.com
Posted by: Peggy McGilligan | July 8, 2008 1:26 AM
"Democracy Restored," you must have inhaled the same stuff impeached President Clinton inhaled. W gets the blame for the price of oil ? Who vetoed drilling in ANWR in 1996 ? Didn't Congress, controlled by Democrats for 45 years prior to 1994, encourage India to liberalize its economy, decades ago ? Do you think oil-slurping India and China have anything to do with the price of oil? Or just W ? Do you think any of the Obama-worshipping Walmart shoppers realize that by shopping at Walmart they are driving up the price of oil because 100% of items sold at Walmart are made in CHINA that's slurping the same oil spicket we are ? Didn't Hillary Clinton sit on the board at Walmart ? Keep smoking, bro. Pass the Doritos.
Posted by: Reality Restored | July 8, 2008 2:38 AM
Only Hillary Clinton had this premonition of something happening before the Denver
Convention. Democrats are stupid and cannot find fault themselves in the causation of energy crisis, economic turmoil and national insecurity.
Posted by: Guy | July 8, 2008 4:01 AM