Rubio's Flight to Munich Returns Due to Mechanical Issue

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's flight to the Munich Security Conference was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews due to a mechanical issue with the cockpit windshield, occurring about 90 minutes into the flight. Despite this setback, Rubio intends to travel to Germany and the Middle East on a different aircraft. His schedule includes a meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although it remains uncertain whether he will arrive in time for that discussion. In addition to the Munich conference, Rubio is set to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, focusing on advancing U.S. interests in the region, including issues related to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostages. The exact cause of the mechanical issue has not been disclosed, but such incidents are rare for the C-32 aircraft. The State Department has confirmed the plans for Rubio's continued travel despite the initial disruption.