Security procedures for Michelle Obama tightened after aborted plane landing

April 21st, 2011 - 1:40 pm ICT by ANI  

Washington, Apr 21(ANI): The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new procedures following the aborted landing of a presidential plane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama.

The plane carrying Michelle had to abort its landing at Andrews Air Force Base on Monday since it came dangerously close to a 200-ton military cargo jet, owing to an air traffic controller’s mistake.

The first lady was returning from a television appearance and other events in New York with Vice President Joe Biden’s wife Jill Biden, and was aboard a Boeing 737- part of the presidential fleet- when the error occurred on the plane’s final approach to the base.

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said that the agency will start requiring a supervisor to monitor movements of flights involving the Vice President and First Lady, just as the FAA already requires for flights carrying President Obama.

“As of today, we are making the same supervisor oversight requirement for (Vice President and First Lady) flights in the D.C. area and at their destinations where possible,” Fox News quoted Brown, as saying.

The announcement comes as both the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board launch investigations into the incident.

It marked the latest embarrassment for the FAA, which is trying to tamp down growing anxiety over flying after suspending nine air traffic controllers and supervisors across the country in recent weeks, including five for sleeping on the job. (ANI)

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