UPDATE: 4:46 P.M.

Vice President Kamala Harris boarded Air Force Two at 4:18 p.m. Second gentleman Douglas Emhof joined her to board the plane after they both attended a private event with troops at the base. The event was closed to the media.

For the second time today, Harris avoided answering reporters shouting questions about the situation in Afghanistan. Attacks at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan this morning resulted in the death of at least 60 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops, U.S. and Afghan officials said.

Harris released a written statement calling the 13 courageous troops heroes who died while saving countless lives.

“Doug and I grieve for the Americans we lost, we pray for the Americans injured in the attack, and our hearts go out to their loved ones,” the statement said. “We also grieve for the Afghan civilians killed and injured. Our country is grateful to all our women and men in uniform, and in particular, those working today to get Americans and our Afghan partners out of harm’s way. And we will complete that mission. Today, we honor those who gave their lives in service to their nation. We will never forget.”

President Joe Biden today held a press conference addressing the deadly attacks, vowing to hunt down terrorists who were responsible. The U.S. self-imposed deadline of Aug. 31 to withdraw troops out of Afghanistan is quickly approaching.

>> RELATED: President Biden vows to ‘hunt’ down terrorists who attacked Kabul airport and killed 60 Afghans, 13 U.S. troops

Harris and her husband, Emhoff, were seen waving as they boarded Air Force Two to return to Washington instead of initially scheduled travel to California for a campaign appearance alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom who is facing a recall election.

3:15 P.M.

Air Force Two touched down about 2:40 p.m. at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and taxied up to the historic base operations building at Hickman Field at about 2:52 p.m.

Harris was greeted by Adm. Sam Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and talked for two minutes next to the plane then walked toward the awaiting motorcade vehicles.

According to a White House pool report, she waved to reporters shouting questions about Afghanistan before stepping into her black SUV to attend an event with troops that is closed to the media. She did not respond to questions from reporters.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff will meet in Hawaii today following separate trips overseas on official White House duties.

According to the latest White House pool report, Harris is on a layover in Guam and expected to land on Oahu at 2:40 p.m. local time. Harris plans to meet privately with servicemembers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Emhoff arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday, the White House said. He originally planned to meet with representatives from the nonprofit AccesSurf and visit a vaccination site at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, but both events have been canceled due to the developing situation in Kabul, according to the White House. Emhoff plans to join Harris at the base.

At least 12 U.S. troops and at least 60 Afghans were killed after two suicide bombers and gunmen today attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport to flee following Taliban’s takeover of Aghanistan.

Harris concludes her weeklong trip to Singapore and Vietnam with the goal to strengthen U.S. relations with the two countries. Emhoff will join his wife after leading the U.S. delegation to the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

First lady Jill Biden visited Oahu in late July on her way back from the Tokyo Olympics. She visited a pop-up vaccination clinic at Waipahu High School and attended a barbecue for military members and their ohana at the base. Biden injured her foot on an unidentified beach on Oahu and received medical treatment when she returned to Washington, D.C.

The Associated Press and White House press pool contributed to this report.