German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has been forced to adjust his travel plans due to a malfunction in the government aircraft designated for his trip to Colombia. The German Air Force Airbus A350, scheduled to depart from Hamburg, is currently out of service because of a technical defect in its de-icing system, according to a statement from the Foreign Office issued late on Friday.
The aircraft’s technical issues necessitated a last-minute change in Wadephul’s itinerary. A spokesman for the air force, known as the Luftwaffe, confirmed that necessary spare parts have been ordered to address the defect. As a result, Wadephul will now take a commercial flight to Colombia, where he is set to represent Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
Travel Plans Altered Amid Technical Difficulties
Upon arriving in Colombia, Wadephul plans to continue his journey to Santa Marta, located on the northern Caribbean coast, where the CELAC summit is taking place. Following this engagement, he intends to travel to Bolivia for discussions with the newly elected government. Additionally, he is scheduled to participate in a meeting in Canada with counterparts from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized nations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Germany’s fleet of government aircraft has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years due to a series of technical malfunctions. This ongoing issue has led to significant disruptions in official travel. Wadephul’s predecessor, Annalena Baerbock, experienced a notable incident in August 2023, when she was left stranded in Abu Dhabi. During a refueling stop, her government Airbus A340 encountered a failure with its landing flaps, which ultimately forced her to cancel an important trip to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.
In light of these recent challenges, the reliability of Germany’s government aircraft has become a contentious topic. As Wadephul prepares for his journey, the technical issues underline the importance of maintaining operational readiness for such crucial diplomatic engagements.
