Crime & Safety

Watch: Air Force 2's Engine Hit By Bird In New Hampshire

Vice President Mike Pence, who attended a rally in Gilford Tuesday, returned to Washington via cargo jet after Air Force 2 was grounded.

Still frame of video showing Air Force II bird-strike
Still frame of video showing Air Force II bird-strike (Daniel Cerritos of MHT Aviation)

LONDONDERRY, NH — Air Force 2, the vice president's jet, was grounded at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport due to a bird strike right after takeoff Tuesday.

Vice President Mike Pence was leaving New Hampshire after a rally in Gilford. A few seconds after takeoff, the jet's engine was struck, and then the craft turned around.

Daniel Cerritos of MHT Aviation submitted this video to Patch of the bird flying into the jet's engine.

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According to New Hampshire State Police and emergency services dispatch, the jet was sent back due to a bird strike. WMUR-TV on Twitter posted a note also stating there was a possible bird strike after takeoff. A spotter at the airport posted video on Twitter of what appears to be the bird strike right after takeoff.

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CNN is reporting a White House official stated the jet turned around out of an abundance of caution. Everyone was reported safe and the crew is checking the aircraft.

At around 8:15 p.m., Pence and staffers boarded an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft and returned to Washington.

Tony Schinella of New Hampshire Patch contributed to this report.

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