Air Force Two cleared after safety scare
Vice-president Cheney in plane malfunction
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Sunday, 25, Feb 2007 12:11
A plane carrying US vice president Dick Cheney has left Singapore safely after stopping for refuelling and repairs to a faulty electrical generator.
Officials described the problem afflicting the Boeing C-32 as minor, with reporters on the plane claiming that an electrical surge disabled electrical sockets, in-flight entertainment and power to the airliner's galley, the Associated Press news agency reports.
Australian prime minister John Howard revealed that the plane, dubbed Air Force Two, had been diverted to Singapore after taking off from Sydney, although a spokesman for the vice president said the stop had been pre-planned for refuelling purposes.
The Reuters news agency reports that there had been a slight delay in Mr Cheney's plane taking off as a set of stairs had been sent out to the airliner as it waited on the runway. However, someone on the plane waved the stairs away and the aircraft left Singapore without any problems.
Lee Anne McBride, a spokeswoman for the vice president, said this issue was "absolutely unrelated" to the electrical problems as it was down to a piece of luggage left behind.
Mr Cheney had previously appeared in Sydney to talk to the Australian prime minister about the fight against terrorism, as well as the war in Iraq.
During a press conference with Mr Howard, Mr Cheney said he was "comfortable" with Britain's decision to start withdrawing troops from Iraq.