As the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken is no stranger to the challenges of international diplomacy. However, during a recent trip to Europe for discussions on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, he faced yet another hurdle: issues with a Boeing jet.
On this occasion, Blinken was traveling on an Air Force C-40 jet, which is a modified version of the Boeing 737. As they were en route to Belgium for the NATO foreign ministers meeting, the plane encountered problems that required Blinken and other State Department officials to make an unexpected detour by car between Paris and Brussels. Despite this setback, they arrived safely at their destination.
This was not Blinken’s first encounter with Boeing aircraft this year. In January, while returning from Switzerland, the same model of plane experienced a critical failure due to an oxygen leak. As a result, Blinken had to return home in a smaller jet. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of Boeing’s jets and brought attention to their practices.
Boeing has been under scrutiny since an Alaska Airlines flight experienced a door plug detachment on a 737 Max in 2018. Investigations revealed that the jet left the factory without necessary bolts to secure the door plug. This incident caused a hole in the side of the plane and marked a turning point in Boeing’s reputation as one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers.
Subsequent incidents involving Boeing planes have only heightened these safety concerns and raised questions about their quality control processes. While some issues may be related to the age of the aircraft, there is growing concern about Boeing’s safety measures and whether they are adequate enough to prevent future accidents.
