Trump’s plane diverted to Billings, Montana, over mechanical issue while flying to rally

Former President Trump’s plane was diverted to Billings, Montana, on Friday due to a mechanical issue, a Billings airport official said. 

The Republican presidential nominee is scheduled to hold a rally in nearby Bozeman, Montana, Friday evening, and is still expected to make it.

Bozenman is about a two-hour drive from Billings. 

“I just landed in a really beautiful place: Montana. So beautiful, flying over, and you just look down and that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Trump said in a video from his plane posted to social media, making no mention of any plane issues or of the diversion. “I’m here to do some fundraisers and most important to support Tim Sheehy who’s running for the U.S. Senate and we think he’s going to do really well. We’re going to have a rally. And it’ll be a lot of fun.” 

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Sheehy is running against current Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in the state. 

It’s not clear if Trump will fly on to Bozeman or drive in a motorcade, the local FOX affiliate reported.

Trump is speaking at Montana State University at 8 p.m. mountain time, and is expected to draw thousands of supporters. 

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Bozeman airport CEO Brian Springer told the outlet that Trump’s plane had landed in Billings and that the motorcade that had expected him to land in Bozeman had left. 

Trump flies on his private plane, nicknamed Trump Force One, which is a Boeing 757 that includes a living room, flat screen TV and a lounge.

“I’m a worker, right? I’m not a pleasure guy. I’m a worker guy, and it’s a tremendous plane for that. It’s got great speed, and all that energy gets us to where we’re going on time,”Trump told Fox News in January while giving a private tour of his plane. 

He told Fox News that while he loves his plane, Air Force One, the plane flown by the president, is “very special.” 

“Air Force One is always Air Force One, even if this is nicer,” Trump joked. “Air Force One is still Air Force One. I mean it represents something very special.” 

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

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