Pence describes harrowing runway incident

GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence says he feels blessed after his plane slide off a runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York without any injuries.

{mosads}“We’re great, thank God,” Indiana’s governor said on “CBS This Morning” Friday. “We’re very grateful for the concern expressed for us. It was about 10 seconds of uncertainty.”

Pence’s plane overshot the runway while landing late Thursday, according to a statement by the Port Authority.

“As we landed, we had a low ceiling [as we] came in,” Pence recalled the next day.

“Once we were on the ground, you could tell they were trying to brake [and] stop the aircraft as quickly as possible. It slid back and forth a little bit then left the runway, but all are well.”

Pence said he is thankful for the quick response from first responders and the pilots involved in the short but frightening moment.

“Once the plane came to a stop, we noticed there was mud on the windows of the front half of the plane,” he said. “We smelled the burned rubber. I’m so grateful to the first responders. They were virtually on the scene before the plane stopped rolling. I’m grateful to the pilots.

“Our son Michael is a Marine Corps aviator. Our son Michael likes to say, ‘Every landing you walk away from is a successful landing.’ It was over quickly. And we’re back on the campaign trail today.”

Both Donald Trump, Pence’s running mate, and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, have voiced relief over his safe landing.

Pence canceled a fundraiser in New York City late Thursday after the incident but is scheduled for a rally Friday in Bensalem, Pa.