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.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have surged after the Taliban government accused Islamabad of carrying out an attack that killed m...
Joseph Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (17 March), becoming the most senior official in President Dona...
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or ca...
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key iss...
A survivor of the air strike on a Kabul drug rehabilitation centre described scenes of devastation, saying patients w...
Türkiye and Iran’s foreign ministers spoke by phone after reports that a ballistic missile entered Turkish airspace, with Tehran denying responsibility and insisting its recent strikes targeted only U.S. and Israeli facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
The U.S. will take action to mitigate rising energy prices due to a spike in the price of oil caused by the Iran conflict, Secretary of State Rubio said on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Geneva and may hold talks with U.S. officials, according to the RIA news agency.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz confirmed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released $2m in emergency funding to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria as escalating regional conflict strains hospitals, raises displacement and increases pressure on already fragile health systems.
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or cancelled and forcing schools, federal offices and communities to take emergency precautions.
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key issues following their latest round of talks in Paris, offering a cautious sign of progress in a relationship long marked by tension and uncertainty.
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans for a fortified barrier along the country’s northern border just days after entering office.
A Russian drone attack damaged industrial, port, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight. The strikes disrupted power supplies in several settlements, prompting local authorities to switch critical facilities to backup power generators.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment