What would have led to a fatal plane crash was averted late Friday, as former US President Donald Trump’s plane suffered “mechanical issues” forcing it to make an unscheduled landing in Montana.
Trump’s distinctive Boeing 757, nicknamed Trump Force One, was en route to Bozeman, where the Republican nominee for president will headline a campaign rally Friday night, when it was rerouted to Billings, about two hours to the east, at about 4:30 p.m.
“His aircraft had mechanical issues, and he was diverted into the Billings-Logan Airport,” a spokesperson for the airport said.
“He’s continuing to Bozeman on a private jet,” they added.
The nature of the mechanical issues are unclear.
Trump, 78, appeared unfazed by the incident in a video shared on X by his campaign.
“I just landed in a really beautiful place, Montana,” he said in the clip, while still aboard his plane.
“So beautiful flying over, and you just look down, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” he added, noting that he has “a very high rating in Montana.”
About an hour and half after landing in Billings, New York Times photographer Doug Mills captured images of Trump walking off his plane and boarding a “smaller” one to continue on to Bozeman for the rally.
The Secret Service conducted a “complete sweep of the airport” before Trump was allowed to get on the new aircraft, local outlet KTVH reported.
The rally in Bozeman will mark Trump’s first outdoor event since the July 13 assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.