Mechanical issue halts US Secretary Rubio’s Boeing C-32 flight to Europe

While heading to Europe with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch, the US Air Force’s Boeing C-32 had to turn back to Washington due to a mechanical issue mid-flight, according to the US State Department. 

Rubio was headed to the Munich Security Conference to “discuss a range of US priorities with international partners” when his aircraft suddenly turned back to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on February 13, 2025, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced in a statement. 

“This evening, en route from Washington to Munich, the plane on which Secretary Rubio is flying experienced a mechanical issue,” the spokesperson said. 

The mechanical issue, which concerned the cockpit windshield, occurred about 90 minutes after takeoff from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, AP News reported. Rubio’s aircraft landed back at Joint Base Andrews around 22:00 local time.  

“The secretary intends to continue his travel to Germany and the Middle East on a separate aircraft,” the spokesperson added. 

It is not clear if this delay will impact his meeting on February 14, 2024, with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

While in Munich, Rubio was also set to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the spokesperson said. After that, from February 15 to 18, 2025. he was scheduled to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The post Mechanical issue halts US Secretary Rubio’s Boeing C-32 flight to Europe appeared first on AeroTime.

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