HOME    WORLD    U.S.    POLITICS    CRIME    ENTERTAINMENT    HEALTH    TECH    TRAVEL    LIVING
February 7, 2008
Shawna Shepherd: Adventures with Mike Huckabee
Posted: 08:20 PM ET
ALT TEXT
(Left to right) - Shawna Shepherd, CNN; Matthew Berger, NBC; Matthew Philips, Newsweek; Kevin Chupka, ABC

Just when I thought covering Mike Huckabee’s campaign couldn’t be any more unpredictable, the press plane traveling from Little Rock to New York Thursday morning had to make an emergency landing.

The plane with Gov. Huckabee and his staff, including his daughter Sarah, arrived at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey without incident.

The press plane, a midsize (Hawker, I believe), traveling seven members of the press, landed early at Morristown Municipal Aiport in New Jersey, just south of Teterboro.  No one was injured.

It was a smooth flight from Little Rock, but as we flew over Philadelphia the plane suddenly dipped, losing a lot of altitude. Steve Coppin, CNN photojournalist, described the sensation as free-falling on a roller coaster and being lifted from your seat.  Everyone on the plane gasped loud enough for the pilots to hear.

I shook it off as bad turbulence or the consequence of being on a small plane.  At one point the sound of an alarm could be heard from the cock-pit. Newsweek reporter Matthew Philips looked at Coppin and said, “that didn’t sound good.”

ALT TEXT
(Left to right) - Steve Coppin, CNN; Shawna Shepherd, CNN; Kevin Chupka, ABC

Being veteran flyers, we shook it off as just another really bumpy flight.  We began descending earlier than we expected and the plane began swaying from side to side like a seesaw.  It was unsettling watching the pilots in the cock-pit quickly adjusting controls as they made the difficult landing. 

It wasn’t until the plane came to a stop on the tarmac that the pilots told us there was a problem with the plane and they had to make an emergency landing. One of the pilots said it was “pretty serious” and explained that they lost flight controls and had trouble maintaining altitude.

The pilots said they both needed all their strength to land the plane manually.  A fire truck was on the tarmac as a precaution, and when the cabin door opened we were greeted by a firefighter in a protective silver fire suit.

Only hours later, this frightening experience became an afterthought, as former Gov. Mitt Romney suspended his campaign. 

- Shawna Shepherd, CNN Political Producer

5 Comments
Filed under: John McCain •  Mike Huckabee •  Mitt Romney •  Raw Politics
5 Comments
Lorie Ann   February 7th, 2008 8:35 pm ET

It goes to show us all that no one is immune to dangerous incidents.
I think we sometimes forget just what’s involved in the run for President.
Days, weeks and months of grueling travel and endless time devoted to the process. Add all the people who travel with the candidates, their families and press etc. and you have a huge group involved in the political machine.
Glad to hear you all are safe.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

Cindy   February 7th, 2008 8:46 pm ET

What a harrowing experience!! Glad everything turned out OK!! You never can tell what can happen on a plane. They say flying is supposedly safer than driving a car but I’ll stick to the ground as much as I can myself! LOL

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Jen   February 7th, 2008 9:18 pm ET

glad your safe…maybe he’ll get a book deal out of this if not an oval office…the adventures of huck abee?

Annie Kate   February 7th, 2008 10:08 pm ET

That sounded like a scary experience - I am glad all of you got down safely I guess you do enough flying to be able to pass this off as just something that happened today and the big news was Romney dropping out.

Stay safe out there!!

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Joy   February 8th, 2008 1:51 pm ET

Dear Shawna,

I got goose bumps reading your blog and am so happy you are safe! Hugs, Joy

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About this blog

A behind the scenes look at “Anderson Cooper 360°” and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper and the show’s correspondents and producers. Insight you can’t find anywhere else.

For more details, read our tips on how to win 360° approval for comments.

Send your instant feedback to Anderson Cooper 360°.

Featured Contributors
Candy Crowley
Candy Crowley is CNN's senior political correspondent and an AC360° contributor
David Gergen
David Gergen is CNN's senior political analyst and former presidential advisor
Roland S. Martin
Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning journalist and AC360° contributor
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Crime  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences  |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com