German foreign minister halts trip to Australia amid aircraft technical problems

Aug. 15 (UPI) -- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was forced to delay her trip to the Indo-Pacific region Monday due to technical issues with the government plane that was meant to transport her to Australia.

The aircraft made a refueling stopover in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, and experienced technical issues with a landing flap that would not properly extend shortly after takeoff.

The aircraft reportedly had a history of technical issues.

The plane was forced to circle the airport for an hour and a half and jettison fuel to reduce the landing weight while firefighters on the ground prepared for the possibility of a fire.

According to German media, the 35-year veteran pilot had never experienced the exact technical failure that happened to Baerbock's flight but had run simulations on how to land with a jammed landing flap.

"Due to mechanical problems, we were forced to return to Abu Dhabi for safety reasons," said a German foreign ministry spokesperson.

Baerbock expressed frustration at the delay.

"We have tried everything: unfortunately, it is logistically impossible to continue my Indo-Pacific journey without the broken plane. This is beyond annoying," Baerbock posted on X.

"In the Indo-Pacific we not only have narrow #Freunde and #Partner. The region will decisively shape the #Weltordnung of the 21st century. That is why the content and personal exchange is so important," Baerbock continued.

Baerbock was originally meant to fly to Australia on an Airbus A340-300 but had to switch aircraft due to inspection failures.

German officials have experienced numerous delays due to aircraft technical failures in recent years.

Baerbock also got stuck in Doha, Qatar, in May when her aircraft suffered tire damage.

Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz was grounded in Indonesia in 2018 while serving as finance minister and former Chancellor Angela Merkel along with Scholz, were forced to divert another 2018 flight when the aircraft's communications systems failed.

The aircraft that had technical problems while carrying Merkel in 2018 is the same aircraft that was carrying Baerbock Monday.