New Zealand PM forced to fly commercially to ASEAN summit as unreliable Boeing keeps breaking down

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon encountered an unexpected hurdle en route to the ASEAN summit in Australia. Instead of boarding his military aircraft, a technical glitch forced him onto a commercial flight.

The incident unfolded on Tuesday when a preflight inspection in Wellington uncovered a significant electrical issue with the military plane, according to reports from New Zealand media.

Luxon then reportedly opted for an early morning commercial flight out of Wellington. This impromptu change led him to fly with Air New Zealand, the airline he formerly led as CEO for seven years before transitioning to politics.

The snag with the military aircraft was attributed to a technical fault with the nose landing gear system, as stated by a spokesperson from the defense force. Efforts are underway to rectify the problem promptly.

Meanwhile, the Royal New Zealand Air Force is exploring alternative arrangements for Luxon’s return journey scheduled for Wednesday.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by New Zealand’s military fleet, particularly the two Boeing 757-200s designated for transporting national leaders since 2003. In

recent years, these aircraft have experienced reliability issues, resulting in stranded leaders or delayed official trips on multiple occasions.

In past, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, also encountered similar setbacks during her tenure. Luxon’s political history adds a twist, as he had criticised the use of backup aircraft during official trips while serving as the opposition leader.