Traveling for diplomatic purposes should be smooth sailing for high-ranking government officials, but Germany seems to be experiencing a string of plane malfunctions that has left its ministers in quite the predicament. From cracked windows to rats gnawing on cables, a series of technical glitches has plagued their travel plans, often leading to unexpected and sometimes comical outcomes.
Annalena Baerbock’s Stuck Down Under
The latest mishap involved Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose journey to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji was derailed when her plane suffered a broken landing flap in Abu Dhabi. This unfortunate incident left her stranded, adding another chapter to the book of German officials’ plane troubles.
Embarrassing Instances of Plane Troubles
- Cracks in the Windshield: State Secretary Siemtje Möller and her delegation faced cracked windows on Germany’s smallest government plane during a visit to Niger. This issue forced the group to abandon the plane for a commercial flight back home.
- Mali Mission: Former Defence Minister Heiko Maas found himself stuck in Mali in 2019 as the landing gear’s hydraulics malfunctioned. An elaborate solution involving a German Air Force flight from Germany to Mali was devised to bring Maas and his delegation back.
- Repairing on the Go: Gerd Müller, the former development minister, encountered a series of setbacks during a trip to Malawi. First, the government plane broke down, leading to a charter flight to Zambia. The German crew dispatched to fix the plane in Malawi found themselves short of spare parts. Once repaired, the plane encountered further trouble with its computer system upon landing in Zambia.
- Berlin’s Explosive Incident: Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier faced an explosive situation in Berlin in 2019 when one of the plane’s wheels burst before takeoff. The emergency landing cut short his planned Africa tour.
- Rats in the Cables: Finance Minister Olaf Scholz’s return from an IMF meeting in Indonesia was marred by rats that chewed on the plane’s cables. Scholz had to resort to a commercial flight while his delegation waited for repairs.
- Merkel’s G20 Glitch: In 2018, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s G20 trip to Argentina took a detour as her plane’s communications systems failed. An emergency landing in Cologne resulted in Merkel flying commercial to the summit.
- Military Cargo Substitute: In 2015, Merkel’s government aircraft faced technical faults before her trip to India. She ended up flying in a military cargo plane to ensure her timely arrival.
- Ursula von der Leyen’s Lithuanian Twist: Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Lithuania was marked by an engine issue on her plane. A delay ensued, and she flew back on an older Transall replacement aircraft.
A Tale of Travel Troubles
Germany’s government officials seem to have experienced a litany of bizarre and often embarrassing plane malfunctions during diplomatic trips. These incidents, ranging from rodents to technical glitches, have led to some unusual travel scenarios and have raised eyebrows both within and outside the country.
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