US Secretary of State Antony Blinken encountered a travel setback during his visit to Davos when the plane he was on experienced a “critical failure” due to an oxygen issue. Blinken, who had traveled to Davos for the annual World Economic Forum, was scheduled to return to Washington on Wednesday. However, the modified Boeing Co. 737 aircraft he and his party had boarded was deemed unsafe to fly due to an oxygen leak that could not be remedied.
The top US diplomat was informed about the aircraft’s critical failure after flying from Davos to Zurich on helicopters and boarding the Boeing 737. Despite being a common occurrence in aviation, the glitch comes at a challenging time for Boeing, which has had several of its 737 Max 9 aircraft grounded by regulators following an incident on an Alaska Airlines jet on January 5.
The specific aircraft used by Blinken is an older variant of the 737, designated as the C40 by the US Air Force. Members of the press traveling with Blinken and his aides were instructed to make alternative arrangements to fly back to Washington commercially.
This incident highlights the complexities and challenges faced in international travel, especially for high-profile figures attending significant events such as the World Economic Forum. The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum serves as a platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to exchange ideas and perspectives on critical global issues.
Travel disruptions involving political figures are not unprecedented. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a similar situation when he got stuck in India after a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi due to a mechanical fault with his plane. Germany has also experienced issues with its government jets during long journeys, leading to an accelerated retirement of outdated planes like the Airbus A340 and the acquisition of new-generation A350s.
Despite the travel setback, Blinken managed to leave Davos after changing planes to return to Washington. Another plane was flown to Switzerland to pick him up, ensuring that diplomatic engagements could proceed without significant disruptions.
