Air Force One grounded

2004-07-04 18:20

Charleston - The US presidential jet Air Force One suffered engine trouble on Sunday, forcing President George W Bush to delay a trip to the state of West Virginia, the White House said.

Bush was already on board the Boeing 747 and ready to take off for the state capital Charleston, where he was to give a speech marking America's Independence Day.

Bush had been due to leave at 09:30 (14:30 GMT) from Hagerstown, Maryland - an airport near the presidential retreat Camp David, where he spent the day on Saturday.

The problem was discovered before the jet began its take-off, a White House official said.

Another plane took Bush to Charleston, but he only left for the hour-long trip at 10:40 (15:40 GMT) and was forced to cancel an appearance at a religious service, the official said.

The US president has two identical high-tech jumbo jets to fly around the world under the famed call sign "Air Force One." The iconic plane allows the president to keep constant video links with his aides on the ground.

- SAPA