President Biden joked on Thursday that he steers clear of the doors on the presidential plane manufactured by Boeing, the aircraft maker beset by a series of recent mid-flight mishaps.
Biden made the quip at his high-dollar campaign fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall when asked by CBS “Late Show” host Steven Colbert if he had Transportation Secretary Pete Buttegieg tighten the bolts on Air Force One prior to traveling to New York City.
“I don’t sit by the door,” the 81-year-old president told Colbert, who was moderating a discussion at the fundraiser.
“I’m only kidding. I shouldn’t joke about that,” Biden added.
Air Force One is one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B’s, and one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency.
The company has been under fire since the Jan. 5 mid-flight door blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9 passenger plane operated by Alaska Airlines.
The terrifying incident resulted in the Federal Aviation Administration ordering the grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9’s for weeks.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s initial findings concluded that bolts were missing from the Alaska Airlines jet’s rear door.
A week after the near catastrophe, a Boeing plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan due to a crack in the cockpit window.
Then, in late January, a Boeing 757 operated by Delta Airlines and bound for Bogota, Colombia, lost its front tire as the aircraft was preparing to depart Atlanta International Airport.
Later, a UK passenger raised concerns after noticing pieces of tape on the exterior of a Boeing 787 during a flight to India.
In yet another incident, a United Airlines Boeing 777-300 aircraft suffered a midair fuel leak and was forced to make an emergency landing on March 11.
Embattled Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun announced this week that he will step down at the end of the year.
