Remarkably, it took 15 minutes for pilots of the aircraft to identify that they were carrying the Vice Presidential nominee onboard, although that alone was not enough to gain clearance.
“It’s presumably Eastern, the charter operator of the aircraft, that failed in its trip planning for the hop from Kansas City to Milwaukee,” stated an anonymous source familiar with aviation protocols.
The campaign plane was told they weren’t allowed into the restricted airspace – and that they had to maintain 7,000 feet “and advise what your intentions are.”
The pilots said they had a password.
Air traffic control consulted with the Secret Service over whether to allow the plane entry. Pilots stating they had the VP nominee on board was not enough. The aircraft then had to divert to Madison, Wisconsin, get inspected, and fly on to Milwaukee.
PaxEx.aero transcribed relevant pieces of air traffic control communications:
“Eastern Express 100 be advised, you’re not allowed to come inbound with the current TFR access. Descend and maintain 7000 and advise what your intentions are,” said Air Traffic Control (ATC).
“Descend and maintaining 7,000, and we have a password to get in,” replied a pilot.
“Eastern Express 100 we’re still working on whatever’s going on with your approval; just continue inbound for now,” ATC responded.
“We’re told you need to go either Grand Rapids or Madison for screening. I can’t let you come inbound. So let me know which one of those you want to go to… Eastern Express 100 if you’re not familiar with the area Madison is quite a bit closer,” ATC added later.
“Do you know what they mean by screening?” asked a pilot during another exchange.
“Eastern Express 100 I don’t know. It is just screening for approval to go into the area. That’s all I know about it; they said you don’t have it,” answered ATC.
“What’s your tail number?” queried ATC at one point in communication.
“-1-7 X-ray Alpha. And this is the vice presidential candidate’s airplane… Do you need a code from us?” responded a pilot.
“Not at this time. We’re in coordination with Secret Service... Maintain your present course… I think they did all they could for you but I guess you still have to go for screening," clarified ATC.
"Be advised when you get a chance; Secret Service does want you call SOC," instructed ATC later.
"Call who?" asked a pilot.
"The S-O-C... Number is in TFR information... You can't come in; we've gotta take somewhere right now," concluded ATC.
"We're going Madison," confirmed a pilot eventually.
"Roger. You're cleared Madison via current heading 330... Maintain 6000," affirmed ATC finally.
This isn’t Eastern's first campaign rodeo or first with Trump campaign as it operated then-Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence's plane as well.
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