Blinken Faces Flight Dilemma: Boeing Jet Troubles Continue to Plague US Diplomats

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, had a problem with a Boeing jet while traveling in Europe for discussions about conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Due to unspecified issues with the Air Force C-40 jet, Blinken and other State Department officials had to travel by car between Paris and Brussels. This is the second time this year that Blinken has had an issue with a Boeing plane while traveling.

In January, Blinken encountered a problem with the same model of plane when returning from Switzerland due to a critical failure related to an oxygen leak. This incident led to investigations into Boeing’s practices and public attention to other problems on subsequent flights with Boeing jets. The door plug blowing off a 737 Max on an Alaska Airlines flight was one such incident that raised concerns about the quality and safety of Boeing jets.

While some of the reported issues on older Boeing planes may not have been caused by the company, the incidents have brought more focus on questions regarding the reliability of Boeing aircraft. These events have highlighted the need for increased scrutiny of Boeing’s practices and greater attention to safety concerns related to their jets.