Harris’s plane forced to return to Andrews after ‘technical issue’

Vice President Harris’s plane was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews on Sunday because of a “technical issue” with the aircraft.

Symone Sanders, senior adviser and chief spokeswoman for the vice president, said Harris would be switching planes for her trip to Guatemala City because of a “technical issue,” adding that there were “no major safety concerns.”

When asked if she was OK, Harris told reporters traveling with her, “I’m good. I’m good.” She also gave a double thumbs-up.

“We all said a little prayer, but we’re good,” she added.

A reporter traveling with Harris said there was an unusual noise coming from the landing gear when the plane took off from Andrews, but the landing at the air base was normal.

Sanders later told reporters that, “Shortly after takeoff from Joint Base Andrews en route to Guatemala City, the Air Force Two crew noticed the landing gear was not storing as it should which could lead to further mechanical issues. While there was no immediate safety issue, out of an abundance of caution, they returned to Joint Base Andrews where they have all the parts and mechanics they need to fix the issue. Passengers boarded the back-up C32, which is an Air Force Boeing modified 757.”

Harris was en route to Guatemala City to kick off the first foreign trip of her tenure.

She is scheduled to visit Guatemala and Mexico, after President Biden in March called on Harris to lead the administration’s efforts to stem the flow of migrants seeking entry to the U.S. at the southern border.

The White House has worked to form partnerships with Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries with the goal of addressing the root causes that sparked the surge in immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Harris’s deputy chief of staff, Michael Fuchs; her national security adviser, Nancy McEldowney; and Mazin Alfaqih, a special adviser at the National Security Agency, are all traveling with the vice president, along with Sanders.

Updated at 9:05 p.m.