King, Queen of Belgium Stranded in Chile by Plane Fault

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium experienced significant travel disruptions during their state visit to Chile, where they were stranded due to technical issues with their plane. The Airbus A340-300 carrying the royal couple and their delegation suffered a tire damage while taxiing to the runway at Antofagasta Airport, causing a delay and eventual cancellation of their scheduled departure. The plane required a replacement tire and official clearance before it could fly, resulting in an extended stay in Chile beyond the planned itinerary. This incident was the second flight-related problem during their trip, as their outbound flight had also been delayed by 24 hours due to technical difficulties with the same 24-year-old aircraft. The trip marked the first Belgian state visit to Latin America in 60 years and included a welcome ceremony at the La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago. The delay added to Queen Mathilde's recent history of unsettling flight experiences, including an emergency landing earlier in the year due to a cracked windshield.