Jet Leaves Nancy Reagan in a Rut

An Air Force jet carrying First Lady Nancy Reagan slipped off the runway at Fulton County Airport here Thursday as the pilot attempted a routine turn from the taxi area prior to takeoff.

Mrs. Reagan, 64, was reported to be “somewhat shaken up” but suffered no injuries, a White House spokeswoman said.

No injuries were reported among the 15 other passengers, who included some of the First Lady’s staff and Secret Service agents. When the plane suddenly listed to the right, some passengers fell to the floor, said Mrs. Reagan’s press secretary, Elaine Crispen, who was on the plane.

Mrs. Reagan had spent a few hours in Atlanta addressing a conference of the Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education. The group presented her with an award for her efforts to combat drug abuse.

She was on her way back to Washington when the 11-year-old C-9, the military version of a DC-9, turned from the taxi area to the runway and one of its wheels slipped off the pavement into deep mud, where the aircraft was stranded for hours. Another Air Force jet was dispatched to pick up Mrs. Reagan and the other passengers Thursday evening.

When asked if the incident had been caused by pilot error, Wendy Weber, one of Mrs. Reagan’s press assistants, said from the White House: “It seemed to be. I don’t know for sure.”

At the Pentagon, an Air Force spokesman said: “We are concerned. As with any incident, we will take a look at it and gather the facts. These are highly trained, highly skilled pilots.”

The spokesman would not release the name of the pilot, who is a member of an Air Force corps that flies craft carrying the President, First Lady and other dignitaries.