One of the armored limousines in Barack Obama’s fleet has broken down after it was reportedly filled with diesel instead of petrol.
The malfunctioning limo was brought in especially for the visit from Washington and is the first unforeseen incident during the president’s three day visit to the region.
It failed to start Wednesday morning, where it was parked at Ben-Gurion airport in Tel-Aviv, amid reports it was mistakenly filled with diesel instead of petrol.
Another Limo is being hurriedly brought in from Jordon, according to the Iranian Maan news agency, citing Israel’s channel 10.
Obama left the airport and flew to Jerusalem by presidential helicopter followed by a parade of Black hawk helicopters.
Obama has already apologized about the size of the Presidential entourage.
The Presidential limo is an armored Cadilac, known as the ‘beast’ and is sealed against biological or chemical attack.
“The Beast” is a heavily-modified Cadillac DTS based on a General Motors industrial-duty truck platform, and is estimated to weigh eight tons. It is well-armored, with eight-inch thick doors, bulletproof glass and a superstructure composed of titanium, ceramic, steel and aluminum. It reportedly gets just eight miles to the gallon. The vehicle has its own oxygen supply and is essentially sealed against the outside environment, making it able to sustain chemical or biological attacks . The cabin is capable of functioning as a “panic room,” and outside sounds are piped in via speakers.
The Beast is equipped with night-vision capable cameras, tear gas cannons, Kevlar-reinforced run-flat tires and steel wheels that can work without tires at all.
The limo carries a supply of President Obama’s blood for use in case of an emergency. It is also rumored to be equipped with infrared smoke grenades to conceal the vehicle from attack by rocket-propelled grenades.
