Mechanical Trouble Grounds Rubio's Flight to Munich

A mechanical issue forced an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Sen Jim Risch back to Washington. The delay might affect Rubio's scheduled meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference.

A mechanical issue forced an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Sen Jim Risch, to return to Washington on Thursday night.

The plane, en route to the Munich Security Conference in Germany, experienced trouble with the cockpit windshield about 90 minutes into the flight, according to a State Department spokeswoman. The aircraft turned back to Joint Base Andrews.

Despite the setback, Rubio intends to continue his travels on a different aircraft. Uncertainty remains as to whether this change will affect his scheduled meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday morning in Munich.