Secretary of State Marco Rubio's flight to the Munich Security Conference was cut short Thursday after a crack appeared in the cockpit windshield of the U.S. Air Force plane. The plane returned to Washington, and Rubio will continue his travel to Germany and the Middle East on a different aircraft.
A U.S. Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio was forced to return to Washington on Thursday night after experiencing a mechanical issue shortly after takeoff. The flight, which was en route to the Munich Security Conference in Germany, encountered a problem with the aircraft's cockpit windshield, which reportedly developed a crack during the flight. According to U.S. officials, the issue became apparent about 90 minutes after the plane had departed, prompting the decision to turn the aircraft around and head back to Washington.
The plane, a C-32, which is a modified Boeing 757 used by high-ranking U.S. officials, landed safely at Joint Base Andrews, located just outside the U.S. capital. The aircraft had initially taken off from Washington, but it was forced to cut its journey short due to the safety concerns related to the cracked windshield. The plane was able to return without incident, and there were no reports of injuries to anyone on board.
In a statement provided to the press, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed the mechanical issue and clarified that Rubio, who was traveling to Munich for the annual security conference, would continue his trip on a separate aircraft. "The Secretary intends to continue his travel to Germany and the Middle East on a separate aircraft," Bruce said.
The timing of the issue raises concerns about Rubio’s ability to attend a key meeting scheduled for Friday morning at the Munich Security Conference. The meeting, which was expected to include Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is an important event on the sidelines of the conference. However, it is still unclear whether Rubio will be able to attend, as his departure from Washington has been delayed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of a deadly drone strike on a Türkiye-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea, killing it...
Regional powers gathered in Moscow on Monday for talks on Afghanistan, focusing on security, economic cooperation and Kabul’s relations with ...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan held talks in Tehran on Monday on bilateral ties and efforts t...
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum, as President Donald Trump signals he may soon decide whether to resume military operations against Tehran.
Uzbekistan’s grape exports have grown rapidly. In January-August 2025, the country exported 86,200 tonnes of fresh grapes worth $78.3 million to 19 countries but can it turn these crops into a recognisable international product?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of a deadly drone strike on a Türkiye-owned cargo ship in the Black Sea, killing its captain and endangering a civilian crew that included Azerbaijani and Indian nationals.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 5 October 2026. These are the top five elections making headlines around the world.
The United States has withdrawn all 12 of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain, just a week after several people were arrested over an alleged plot targeting the air base.
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called a snap election for 29 November in a bid to strengthen his mandate after a fragmented parliament rejected the government's key housing decrees last week amid widespread protests.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment