A airplane carrying Secretary of State Marcio Rubio certain for Munich, Germany, was pressured to return to Maryland late Thursday evening resulting from a “mechanical concern,” officers mentioned.
State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce mentioned in an announcement the airplane returned to Joint Base Andrews exterior Washington, D.C.
“The Secretary intends to proceed his journey to Germany and the Center East on a separate plane,” mentioned Bruce, who can also be aboard the flight. The airplane landed safely shortly earlier than 10 p.m. ET.
CBS Information chief international affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan, who was aboard the airplane, reported that about 90 minutes into the flight, the cockpit windshield suffered a single crack, prompting Air Drive pilots to fly again to the bottom at a low altitude.
It was unclear what brought on the cockpit to crack, Brennan reported. The airplane was a C-32, a transformed Boeing 757, based on the Related Press.
Additionally touring with Rubio was Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho.
Rubio meant to proceed his journey to Munich aboard a smaller airplane, Brennan mentioned, however it was unsure when he would arrive. Rubio is slated to attend the Munich Safety Convention, which begins Friday, together with Vice President JD Vance, who traveled individually to Europe.
On the convention, Rubio was anticipated to affix Vance for a gathering with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which comes within the wake of remarks by each President Trump and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth about working with Russia to barter an finish to the battle. Nevertheless, it was unknown if Rubio would make it to Munich in time for that assembly.
Aviation security has been within the highlight following the Jan. 29 midair collision close to Reagan Nationwide Airport exterior D.C. involving an American Airways flight and an Military Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 folks.
