US Secretary of State Antony Blinken experienced a mid-air emergency when his Boeing 737 aircraft faced a "critical failure" on its way back from Davos to Washington, necessitating a change of planes. Blinken had been in Davos for meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
The incident occurred on Wednesday after Blinken and the press boarded the modified Boeing 737 jet in Zurich. The aircraft encountered the issue before takeoff, leading to the evacuation of passengers. A replacement, smaller aircraft was arranged for Blinken, while some members of the traveling party opted to return to Washington via commercial flights.
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller addressed the media, acknowledging the mechanical issue but directing further inquiries to the US Air Force. Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft, has been grappling with various problems on its planes, including a recent incident on an Alaska Airlines jet where a door plug blew out mid-flight.
It's worth noting that the Boeing 737 aircraft in question was an older model modified for military use, distinct from the newer 737 Max that has faced significant issues, including two crashes in 2018 and 2019, leading to a 20-month grounding of the jet. The incident involving Blinken highlights ongoing concerns regarding the reliability and safety of certain Boeing aircraft.
(With Agency Inputs)
