Fire Aborts Edwards Flight
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RALEIGH, N.C. — A small explosion and fire aboard the campaign plane of Sen. John Edwards forced the Democratic vice presidential candidate to abort a flight to West Virginia Friday night and return here.
No one was injured, and the flight took off for its destination later in the evening.
Edwards; his wife, Elizabeth; and children Jack, 4, and Emma Claire, 6; were aboard the plane, which was ferrying media and staff between a rally in the candidate’s hometown of Raleigh and an event in Williamstown, W.Va.
Shortly after the flight took off, an ABC sound technician was checking his equipment when apparently a lithium 9-volt battery exploded and burst into flames. Shouts of “Fire!” brought a crush of Secret Service agents. The flames were patted out.
“We had to declare an emergency once someone shouted, ‘Fire,’ ” said Edwards spokesman Mark Kornblau.
A fire official inspected the plane after it landed.
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