Air Force 2 carrying VP Harris forced to divert after encountering ‘wind shear’

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a meeting with state attorneys general in the Eisenhower Executive Office building in Washington, DC, on July 18. Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a meeting with state attorneys general in the Eisenhower Executive Office building in Washington, DC, on July 18. Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris’ aircraft was forced to divert to a Washington-area airport after encountering stormy weather Tuesday night as she returned from a trip to Georgia.

Press secretary Kirsten Allen said in a statement, “Tonight, en route from Atlanta, GA, Air Force 2 was diverted from Joint Base Andrews to Dulles International Airport due to inclement weather.”

A person familiar with the matter, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss it, said the aircraft encountered wind shear as a powerful storm brought high winds and rain to the nation’s capital. The same person said no one was injured.

Wind shear is a sudden shift in wind direction or speed that can be hazardous during takeoff and landing.