Plane Problems Cancel Visit by Quayle’s Wife

The menu said quiche, but the luncheon laid an egg.

No Quayle showed up.

Marilyn Quayle, wife of GOP vice presidential candidate Dan Quayle, was scheduled to attend a luncheon Wednesday, sponsored by the Newport Harbor Republican Women. But she had to change her plans when her commercial flight from Sacramento to John Wayne Airport was unexpectedly canceled, former county Supervisor Bruce Nestande said.

Not only did she forgo her speech before the 300-plus gathered at the Red Lion Inn in Costa Mesa, Quayle also missed a second Orange County appearance before about 200 members of the Leisure World Republican Women’s Federated in Rossmoor.

Quayle caught a later flight directly to Los Angeles, where she had late afternoon interviews scheduled, said Nestande, a GOP activist who was to have escorted Quayle to her Orange County appearances.

“It’s sad it happened, but you can’t count on commercial airlines,” Nestande said. “I’m sure she’ll be back in Orange County.”

He broke the news to the Newport Harbor women after the Pledge of Allegiance and during the fruit compote. He urged them all to fill out “volunteer cards” on the red, white and blue tables, agreeing to be called when the candidate’s wife reschedules her appearance.

“We’ll just have a bigger event,” Nestande said.

He told reporters that he offered Tuesday to arrange for a private airplane to fly Quayle to Orange County, but campaign officials declined. And on Wednesday, after the USAir flight had been canceled, it was too late to charter a plane, he said.

“Maybe this is one of those jinxed days,” Nestande said, referring to problems on the plane carrying Sen. Lloyd Bentson, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, to Sacramento Wednesday. A landing gear warning light malfunctioned, but the plane landed safely.

A spokesman for USAir said Quayle’s flight was canceled because of mechanical problems.

Gayle Wilson, wife of Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.), cut short her appearance before the Rossmoor group’s luncheon to speak in Quayle’s stead at the Newport Harbor women’s meeting.