Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s return to Washington from the World Economic Forum in Davis, Switzerland, was delayed by a critical malfunction on his Boeing 737 business jet, the latest bad news for the troubled aircraft maker.
Blinken’s plane suffered an oxygen leak that could not be repaired, the State Department confirmed Wednesday.
At the time of the mechanical problem, first reported by Bloomberg, Blinken had already traveled from Davos to Zurich, the first leg of his return trip to Washington, department spokesman Mathew Miller explained during a press conference.
Due to the defect of the military-operated plane, Blinken was forced to wait for a substitute plane to arrive from Brussels to take him home.
Meanwhile, the secretary’s staff and press team would be transported back to Washington on commercial planes.
Authorities previously warned of the oxygen leak, but were unable to fix the problem in time.
Before joining the Biden administration, Blinken worked as a consultant for Boeing.
Antony Blinken is the United States’ top diplomat. AP
Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards the plane leaving Cairo on January 11. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Blinken’s plane, also known as the C-40, is an older version of the Boeing 737 and distinct from the fleet of 737 MAX 9 planes that were grounded indefinitely last week after a cockpit panel blew off an Alaska flight. Airlines on January 5.
On Jan. 12, the FAA said it was necessary to re-inspect 40 planes and review the results to ensure the Max 9s are safe to fly again.
Blinken’s original ride home has been in operation since at least 2003, according to the Air Force.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn