Fear in Kamala Harris’s plane: her flight to Guatemala had to return to the United States due to a technical problem

Kamala Harris’s plane had to be returned Sunday after a technical issue when the Vice President of the United States took off for Guatemala on his first international trip.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” said Harris, gesturing two thumbs up after landing, adding, however, “we’ve all prayed a little bit, but we’re fine.”

After an hour and a half of waitingthe vice-president finally left aboard a new aircraft.

“It’s a technical problem. There are no major security concerns ”for the former California senator, her spokeswoman Symone Sanders said.

A reporter on the plane, Air Force Two, described “an unusual noise from the landing gear during take off.” “But the landing (…) was quite normal“, He said.

Finally, Harris arrived this Sunday in the capital of Guatemala on a mission to fight against the causes of illegal migration from Central America to his country. and fight against corruption.

Harris’ plane arrived at 6:18 p.m. (0018 GMT) at the Guatemalan Air Force (FAG) base in southern Guatemala City.

Dressed in a dark suit and mask, The Vice President was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Pedro Brolo, and the United States Ambassador to the country, William Popp.

Before starting the trip, which would also take her to Mexico, the vice-president assured that her trip was “to give people a sense of hope, that help is on the way, that if they stay, the things will improve “.

But as the solutions arrive, Migrants in transit through Guatemala ensured their goal continued to be to reach the United States in search of better life opportunities.

Harris will meet with the Guatemalan president on Monday, Alejandro Giammattei, currently questioned for his lack of commitment to the fight against corruption.

The meeting will take place in a tense atmosphere due to criticism from independent judges and prosecutors, an issue that worries Washington.

One of the cases is the harassment reported by Juan Francisco Sandoval, Head of the Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI).

“Guatemala experiences accelerated human rights regressions. A climate of persecution has developed against dissidents (…), which is reminiscent of the military dictatorships that were believed to have been eradicated at the end of the 20th century, ”said Guatemalan mediator Jordán Rodas.

Rodas, who asked Harris to put pressure on Giammattei, assured that the “conditions” described make “impossible to hope for real progress in the fight against corruption and to eliminate the roots which cause irregular migration”.

In this regard, Harris assured that he will seek “very frank and honest conversations” in Guatemala on the fight against corruption, crime and violence.

A small group of protesters, linked to right-wing groups and retired military supporters of former President Donald Trump, rejected Harris’s arrival outside the FAG, accusing him of being a “Marxist” and want to manipulate the country with its “leftist politics”.

With information from AFP

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