A Second Air Force plane carrying Vice President Kamala Harris was forced to divert to a Washington-area airport Tuesday night after encountering rough weather, her office announced.
The turning point occurred as the vice president was returning from a trip to Georgia, where he held a speaking event in Atlanta earlier in the day.
“Air Force 2 was diverted from Joint Base Andrews to Dulles International Airport this evening while en route from Atlanta, Georgia due to inclement weather,” press secretary Kirsten Allen said in a statement.
Harris traveled to Atlanta to discuss voting rights and participate in roundtable discussions with community members.
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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with Culinary Workers Union Local 226 hospitality workers at Culinary Workers Union Hall Local 226 on January 3, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
A person familiar with the diversion told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the plane encountered wind shear as it approached a powerful storm that brought strong winds and rain to Washington, D.C.
Wind shear is a sudden change in wind direction or speed that can be dangerous during takeoff or landing.
Air Force Two is the call sign of the U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President of the United States.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris aboard Air Force 2 arriving at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on May 12, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Ilya Neuverage/AFP via Getty Images)
Harris called Georgia “ground zero for voting rights” in Atlanta on Tuesday, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
The vice president discussed gerrymandering, controversies over voting integrity, and attacks and criticism of election investigators.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about the Biden administration's efforts to ensure voting rights and access for Americans on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. After brief public remarks, Harris held a private roundtable with business, civic and nonprofit leaders. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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“I witnessed an attack on election workers,” Harris said at The Gathering Spot on North Yard Boulevard. “Before I came to this room, I met with election workers and they shared very disturbing stories. “I was doing it,” he said. “The attack is clear and fully intended to attack the freedoms and rights of our country.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
