A U.S. Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Munich was forced to return to Washington on Thursday night after experiencing a mechanical issue, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The aircraft, a C-32 plane—a modified Boeing 757—turned back approximately 90 minutes after takeoff due to a crack in the cockpit windshield, a U.S. official confirmed. Rubio’s plane safely landed at Joint Base Andrews around 10 p.m. after departing at 7 p.m.
Despite the delay, Bruce stated that Rubio intends to continue his diplomatic tour to Germany and the Middle East on a different aircraft. His attendance at a scheduled meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference remains uncertain.
The annual Munich Security Conference serves as a key platform for global leaders to discuss pressing international security issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. Rubio’s trip is part of broader U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region, with his itinerary also including visits to the Middle East for high-level discussions.
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