عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Rubio's Plane Returns after Mechanical Issue, Unclear if he Can Make Zelenskiy Meeting

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks a plane as he returns to Joint Base Andrews after the plane experienced a mechanical issue while flying him to the Munich Security Conference and turned around, in Maryland, US, February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks a plane as he returns to Joint Base Andrews after the plane experienced a mechanical issue while flying him to the Munich Security Conference and turned around, in Maryland, US, February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
TT
TT

Rubio's Plane Returns after Mechanical Issue, Unclear if he Can Make Zelenskiy Meeting

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks a plane as he returns to Joint Base Andrews after the plane experienced a mechanical issue while flying him to the Munich Security Conference and turned around, in Maryland, US, February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks a plane as he returns to Joint Base Andrews after the plane experienced a mechanical issue while flying him to the Munich Security Conference and turned around, in Maryland, US, February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool

A US Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Munich was forced to return to Washington on Thursday after experiencing a mechanical problem, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

"The Secretary intends to continue his travel to Germany and the Middle East on a separate aircraft," Reuters quoted Bruce as saying in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether Rubio would be able to make it to a meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, planned for Friday morning on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference.

The mechanical issue in the C-32 plane, a converted Boeing 757, related to a crack in the cockpit windshield, a US official said, forcing the plane to turn around about 90 minutes after taking off.

Rubio’s plane landed safely at Joint Base Andrews just outside the capital around 10 p.m. It had taken off around 7 p.m.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Ben-Gvir Returns to Netanyahu's Government  

Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)
Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Ben-Gvir Returns to Netanyahu's Government  

Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)
Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)

An Israeli government statement on Wednesday said Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultranationalist Jewish Power party, regained his portfolio as national security minister.

He had left the coalition in January to protest the ceasefire with Hamas.

His return strengthens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition ahead of a crucial budget vote this month and improves its chances of surviving until the next scheduled elections in October 2026.

Ben-Gvir supports the full resumption of the war with the aim of annihilating Hamas, depopulating Gaza through what he refers to as the voluntary migration of Palestinians and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.