Support The Moscow Times!

Rogozin Taunts Romney After Airplane Flap

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney boarding his campaign jet in Los Angeles earlier this week. Brian Snyder

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin taunted Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Wednesday after the former U.S. governor told reporters that he was concerned that windows on modern airplanes are sealed shut.

"The windows don't open. I don't know why they don't do that. It's a real problem," Romney said Monday after his wife's jet was forced to make an emergency landing days earlier when smoke filled the cockpit.

"No problem! We'll send our An-2 to Romney's campaign headquarters," Rogozin quipped back on Wednesday, referring to a postwar biplane known for its shaky flight-safety record.

"Not only do the windows not close, but the doors sometimes swing open mid-flight. On the plus side, there's fresh air to breathe, and you can take in the countryside," he wrote on Facebook.

Although a U.S. reporter who was present for Romney's comments later said they were made in jest, domestic and international media rushed to interpret them as a gaffe worthy of his Republican predecessor George W. Bush.

The hashtag #RomneyPlaneFeatures was still being actively circulated with sarcastic commentary on Twitter on Wednesday.

Romney, whose net worth is estimated at $200 million, is known for his hawkish attitude toward Russia and has referred to the United States' former Cold War enemy as its "No. 1 geopolitical foe" on the campaign trail.

Related articles:

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more