By Bill Parry
Both of LaGuardia Airport’s runways were open by midday Friday after crews worked all night to remove Mike Pence’s campaign plane from a field. The Republican vice presidential candidate and 47 other passengers were unhurt after the Boeing 737 jet skidded off the end of the rain-slicked runway 4/22 just before 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the Port Authority.
Passengers evacuated the aircraft just after 8 p.m. as Pence took photos and shook hands with first responders. He canceled an appearance at a Trump Tower fund-raiser following the scare but made the rounds on the network morning talk shows Friday.
The incident halted flights at LaGuardia for more than an hour before one of the two runways was reopened just after 9 p.m. allowing for inbound and departing flights. The Port Authority is advising all air travelers to contact their carrier for flight schedule status or cancellations prior to leaving for LaGuardia Airport.
The FAA and the NTSB will investigate the cause of the incident.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
