EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) – A surprise stop at the
Eugene Airport, as the First Lady Michelle Obama and her family fly into
Western Oregon to visit family in
Corvallis.
The First Family’s flight landed at the Eugene Airport around 11 a.m. on Monday, August 8th, 2011.
With a blue and white paint job similar to the “Air Force One” most Americans think of, the military grade Boeing 737 landed on the main runway at the Eugene Airport, then taxied to Lawrence Air on Air Cargo Road, south of the airport runways.
Within about 15 minutes, Mrs. Obama and her family joined a motorcade, lead by Oregon State Police and Eugene Police. The 11 vehicle motorcade hit Highway 99 then headed to Corvallis from there.
The Corvallis Municipal Airport can take in plane’s the size of the 737 used on Monday. However, because there are no scheduled flights at the Corvallis Airport, there is no TSA level of federal security on site, so the Eugene Airport is the safest airport to fly in.
Eugene resident Justin McBurnett saw the plane from the airport entrance, then rushed over to check it out.
“I've seen crazy stuff I guess it's not unexpected but it's pretty cool to be able to see it, kind of felt like it was a special opportunity,” said McBurnett.
“Yeah it's a good thing she has a little time here in the busy days here to get up and visit her brother, gotta do it,” said McBurnett.
A Pleasant Hill resident, Rochelle Sundholm was waiting at Lawrence Air, trying to get a puppy on a plane flight when the First Family arrived.
“This is usually the location that we don't see anything happened. I think it's exciting, I mean it's fun to actually be here when somebody's actually coming in like that and to see all of the activity,” said Sundholm.
The First Lady and her family members are visiting Michelle’s older brother Craig Robinson in Corvallis. Robinson is the coach of the OSU Beavers men’s basketball team.
According to an OSU Athletics spokesman, the Obama / Robinson family visit is a private vacation. At this point, no public visits are scheduled.
President Obama remained in Washington D.C. on Monday. The First Lady and her family are expected to be in Corvallis for the next few days.
