CAMPAIGN ’88 : Gallows Humor Aloft

Last week’s near-catastrophe on Aloha Airlines has caused some gallows humor but little disruption aboard Dukakis’ campaign plane, a Boeing 737 leased from Presidential Airways.

The plane, which spent the winter as Kansas Sen. Bob Dole’s campaign transport, is somewhat newer than the Aloha jet that lost a huge section of its roof at 24,000 feet last week, claiming the life of a flight attendant and injuring 60 passengers.

But since the Aloha accident, Dukakis’ pilot has been instructed to keep the jet below 23,000 feet at all times. And reporters on board have begun making jokes about flying a convertible.

“They’ve inspected it several times,” said campaign Press Secretary Mark Gearen, looking only slightly nervous. “We feel safe, don’t you feel safe?”