Embarrassing Mishap
The aircraft transporting New Zealand’s prime minister faced an “awkward” situation as it encountered a breakdown en route to Japan.
Christopher Luxon had to switch to a commercial flight from Papua New Guinea following the Boeing 757’s malfunction during a refuelling stop.
Stranded Delegation
The remaining delegation, including trade minister Todd McClay, numerous business figures, and journalists, found themselves stuck in Port Moresby, the capital.
Amidst the scenario, Air New Zealand’s CEO Greg Foran, among the 52 stranded individuals, arranged for an Auckland to Tokyo flight via Brisbane to retrieve everyone, as reported by Sky News Australia.
Technical Glitch
An issue with a fuse was identified as the root cause of the malfunction, limiting the flight range of the aircraft, affectionately nicknamed “old Betty.”
Despite this setback, the New Zealand leader is set to spend four days in Japan, engaging with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and advocating for business prospects in his nation.
Unreliable Fleet
The New Zealand defence force’s two 757s, aged over 30 years, have become increasingly unreliable, raising concerns about their dependability.
Addressing the recurrent flight challenges, Defence Minister Judith Collins expressed her dismay, labeling the situation “embarrassing” and hinted at exploring commercial flight options for Mr. Luxon and his team in the future.
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Challenges and Solutions
An earlier technical hitch with the aircraft’s landing gear forced Mr. Luxon to opt for a commercial flight to attend an ASEAN summit in Melbourne back in March.
New Zealand’s defence force is grappling with aging equipment and manpower retention issues, prompting the government to consider augmenting defense budgets while curbing spending in light of economic challenges.