Following a “critical failure” caused by an oxygen leak on board his aircraft, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been grounded in Switzerland, according to officials.
The plane problem happened just before America’s top ambassador was scheduled to return from the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Mr. Blinken was picked up by a different aircraft, and his assistants took a commercial trip back to Washington.
Since the start of the war between Israel and Gaza in October, Mr. Blinken has travelled to several nations.
A state department official, Matthew Miller, informed reporters on Wednesday that the delay happened towards the conclusion of Mr. Blinken’s trip and did not affect the plans he had committed to overseas.
Miller said, “There was a mechanical issue with his plane. The Air Force has a replacement plane inbound. We expect to be back still tonight but several hours later than originally planned.”
After the leak was discovered, the secretary of state and his assistants were compelled to exit the aircraft on Wednesday in Zurich.
US media sources stated that he was supposed to go back to the US on a Boeing 737.
During past state department visits, there have been reports of mechanical problems with US Air Force passenger jets.
During Mr. Blinken’s summer trip to China, his assistants gave reporters visas for a refuelling stop in Azerbaijan in case the plane had any technical problems and had to be grounded.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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