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Obama, entourage, switch planes

By Charles Babington
Associated Press Writer / September 6, 2008
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—For the second time this year, mechanical problems have forced Democrat Barack Obama to change charter airplanes on short notice.

The public announcement system on Obama's leased 757 jet malfunctioned Saturday, when the plane landed without incident in Terre Haute, Ind., for a campaign event. Campaign aides said federal rules require planes carrying passengers to have working PA systems. So when Obama and his entourage of staffers, Secret Service and press left Terre Haute for Chicago, they had to switch to a smaller, 50-seat ERJ plane operated by ExpressJet.

The 757 flew to Chicago with their baggage. Some Obama aides had to drive to Chicago because the smaller plane could not accommodate everyone.

In July, Obama's plane made an emergency landing in St. Louis when the pilot had trouble controlling the pitch of the MD-80 charter airliner.

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