Joe Biden trapped on Air Force One after US presidential jet lands in snowstorm
US President Joe Biden and his staff had to wait 30 minutes inside Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in the US due to the heavy snow. He was forced to travel back to the White House by car.
Joe Biden has been trapped on board Air Force One after it landed in a severe snow storm.
The president was delayed in disembarking the private jet after the stairlifts struggled to get through the thick snow at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in the US, on Monday.
The Democrat leader and his team, along with reporters and others inside, had to wait 30 minutes as base staff contended with the blizzard conditions.
Photos show Biden – who is 79-years-old and will soon celebrate one year in the White House – in a face mask bracing himself as he stepped onto the runway.
A secret service official walked a few feet behind the commander-in-chief as he carefully climbed down the stairs before entering a waiting motorcade.
Biden was forced to travel the 15 miles back to the White House by car as his helicopter Marine One was grounded due to the weather.
For the snowy drive back to the White House, Biden used the SUV version of his car – known as The Beast – instead of the armoured limousine.
He was originally scheduled to land straight on the South Lawn of the presidential home.
It comes as parts of the US were bombarded with snow, with as much as 10cm forecast and multiple flights cancelled.
Police were forced to close the grounds of Capitol Hill as snow caused tree branches to fall.
Jen Psaki’s first press briefing of the year was also cancelled.
“Because federal offices in the Washington, DC area are closed, there will be no press briefing today,” the White House said in a statement.
The President was returning from his six-day New Year’s holiday back home in Wilmington, Delaware.
He will now go ahead with his plan to meet virtually with farmers and ranchers to discuss meat prices which are rising.
