BANGOR (AP) – Former President Clinton surprised U.S. troops arriving from Iraq when a refueling stop at the Bangor International Airport coincided with the arrival of two chartered flights carrying soldiers.
Clinton was returning Monday night from Paris where he had met with French President Jacques Chirac to discuss plans for his charitable organization, the Clinton Foundation.
His plans for a quick departure were waylaid when a problem was discovered with the aircraft, allowing him to join a line of local troop greeters who meet each plane carrying soldiers returning from overseas or leaving for duty.
“Thank you for your service,” Clinton said as he shook hands and hugged many of the soldiers as they passed by. He autographed hats, cards, paper and other items.
The soldiers, about 600 of them, were returning to bases in Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia. Their two chartered aircraft had landed for fuel.
“This is great,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Thompson of New York City, who stood next to Clinton.
Clinton’s private jet, a Falcon 900, was scheduled to land for fuel, but there was a mechanical problem as well, said Rebecca Hupp, airport manager.
There was a report of smoke, but it was not serious enough for firefighters to be summoned when the plane touched down at 6:04 p.m., Hupp said.
There was smoke in the cockpit that became heavier as the plane was taxiing, but no one was in danger, according to Clinton’s spokesman in New York. Another plane was brought in before Clinton departed at 10 p.m. for White Plains, N.Y.
While the flight was scheduled to land for fuel and to clear customs, airport administrators didn’t know that Clinton was on the plane, Hupp said.
Clinton had some fun when Army Spc. Joshua Ruschenberg used a cell phone provided by troop greeters to call to his sister-in-law, Shancy Garrison in North Carolina, and handed over the phone to the former commander in chief.
“Hi, Shancy, it’s Bill Clinton,” the former president said into the phone.
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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com
AP-ES-01-10-06 1033EST
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