 |
| The Beast being towed after it broke down |
(Scroll down for video) The presidential limo of Barack Obama broke down on an Israeli highway, according to press reports in Israel.
Barack Obama's heavily armored limousine, nicknamed "The Beast", broke down in Israel, even before the U.S. President has landed in the country after handlers filled up the gas tank with unleaded gasoline diesel instead of diesel.
The U.S. Secret Service was forced to bring over another vehicle from Jordan. The second limo was there since Obama plans to visit Jordan immediately after his visit to Israel.
“The Beast” failed to restart, and was towed away, but Obama, who landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport yesterday afternoon, was not in the country at the time when the vehicle broke down.
A second presidential limousine was at the airport to pick up Obama.
"We had no mechanical problems with one of the cars," Edwin Donovan, a Secret Service spokesperson, said. "We do not know what the cause was," he added.
Donovan could not confirm reports that the limo was refueled with unleaded gasoline instead of diesel.
The specially constructed Cadillac Presidential Limousine weighs an estimated 8 tons.
Although the Secret Service did not disclose details about the vehicle, it reportedly has several inches of armor and bulletproof glass, special suspension to absorb explosions and tightly closed doors and windows in the event of a gas attack.Mobile video not loading? Click here to view