NTSB investigating aborted landing of Michelle Obama’s plane

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an
investigation into the aborted landing of an airplane carrying the first lady,
the agency told The Hill Wednesday. 

NTSB spokeswoman Nantel Kelly said the agency has begun looking
into the Tuesday incident, in which Michelle Obama’s plane had to circle above Andrews
Air Force Base after it was given clearance to land prematurely.

A military cargo plane was not able to clear the runway in
time, the Federal Aviation Administration said, forcing Obama’s plane to take
precautions. Officials have said there was no danger of a collision between the
two planes.

{mosads}Still, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday called
it “a serious incident” worth investigating, and Homeland Security
Secretary Janet Napolitano said during
an appearance on NBC’s “Today Show” that it underlined safety concerns with air traffic.

Napolitano said the incident, which also involved Jill
Biden, the vice president’s wife, did not show that the nation’s airways were
vulnerable to another terrorist attack. 

“Not in that sense from a terrorism exploitation thing,” she
said. “I think it’s more of a concern about day-to-day aviation safety. Air
traffic controllers are key to the safety of the aviation system overall.”

The White House and the first lady’s office have referred
requests for comment on the incident to transportation authorities. No
one was injured in the incident.