Clintons Step Off Problem Helicopter

What was described as a “minor” mechanical problem prompted President Clinton to abandon a Marine helicopter poised to fly him and his family to Camp David. The helicopter’s rotor blades were spinning when the engine was shut down and Clinton left the helicopter with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea. Clinton told reporters there was “apparently a minor problem with the rotor. No big problem.” The first helicopter took off without incident from the White House south lawn, without the first family aboard, and another helicopter was summoned. The Clintons flew in the second helicopter to the presidential mountain retreat in Maryland and landed without incident.