Buy:mikehunt
06-03-05, 05:22 PM
http://www.wnbc.com/news/4564225/detail.html
French Fighter Jets Forced To Land In N.J.
POSTED: 8:12 am EDT June 3, 2005
UPDATED: 12:22 pm EDT June 3, 2005
POMONA, N.J. -- Nine French fighter jets and a radar plane stayed overnight at Atlantic City International Airport after one suffered a mechanical problem and bad weather prevented them from returning to their aircraft carrier off the Virginia coast, authorities said Friday.
The planes, low on fuel, initially asked for permission to land Thursday at a United States military installation but lacked the clearance number, said Noel Clay, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department.
The planes, which had been conducting military exercises, then sought and received permission for emergency landings at the airport here around 3:45 p.m. They were parked overnight on an FAA ramp at the airport and had clearance to take off at noon to return to the French aircraft carrier de Gaulle, off the coast of Virginia.
One of the jets had mechanical problems, said Holly Baker, an FAA spokeswoman whose office is at the airport.
<b>There was a further complication, according to a broadcast report. One of the pilots tried to buy fuel Thursday and couldn't because he didn't have the available funds on his credit card, according to Philadelphia television station WPVI-TV.</b>
Baker said two of the pilots, accompanied by FAA security, stayed with the planes overnight. She could not confirm the report about the failed gasoline purchase.
French Fighter Jets Forced To Land In N.J.
POSTED: 8:12 am EDT June 3, 2005
UPDATED: 12:22 pm EDT June 3, 2005
POMONA, N.J. -- Nine French fighter jets and a radar plane stayed overnight at Atlantic City International Airport after one suffered a mechanical problem and bad weather prevented them from returning to their aircraft carrier off the Virginia coast, authorities said Friday.
The planes, low on fuel, initially asked for permission to land Thursday at a United States military installation but lacked the clearance number, said Noel Clay, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department.
The planes, which had been conducting military exercises, then sought and received permission for emergency landings at the airport here around 3:45 p.m. They were parked overnight on an FAA ramp at the airport and had clearance to take off at noon to return to the French aircraft carrier de Gaulle, off the coast of Virginia.
One of the jets had mechanical problems, said Holly Baker, an FAA spokeswoman whose office is at the airport.
<b>There was a further complication, according to a broadcast report. One of the pilots tried to buy fuel Thursday and couldn't because he didn't have the available funds on his credit card, according to Philadelphia television station WPVI-TV.</b>
Baker said two of the pilots, accompanied by FAA security, stayed with the planes overnight. She could not confirm the report about the failed gasoline purchase.