SYDNEY: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon encountered travel disruptions on March 5 as a technical issue grounded his military aircraft, compelling him to board a commercial flight to attend an ASEAN summit in Melbourne.
Pre-flight inspections revealed a fault in the nose landing gear system, prompting Luxon’s shift to a commercial flight. Despite the setback, Luxon managed to meet with the Sultan of Brunei in Melbourne. However, there are concerns that he may miss scheduled meetings with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. The New Zealand Defence Force faces challenges with its aging Boeing 757-200 aircraft, which have experienced reliability issues in recent years. With engineers working to resolve the technical fault, the Air Force is exploring backup options to ensure Luxon’s return home.
