Lucy Kraimer
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – A New Zealand Defense Force plane carrying New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Japan broke down on Sunday, forcing the prime minister to take a commercial flight, his office confirmed on Monday.
Luxon will spend four days in Japan, where he is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and spend time promoting New Zealand businesses.
New Zealand media reported that the Boeing (NYSE:) 757 broke down while refueling in Papua New Guinea, leaving the business delegation and journalists stranded in Port Moresby and Luxon taking a commercial flight to Japan.
The New Zealand Defense Force’s two Boeing 757s are more than 30 years old and their age is making them increasingly unreliable.
New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins told Newstalk ZB radio on Monday that the ongoing flight problems were a “confusion” and that the ministry was considering commercial flights for Luxon and his delegation from now on.
The New Zealand Defense Force is struggling with outdated equipment and maintaining sufficient personnel. The government has said it would like to spend more on defense but is also trying to cut spending as the country faces economic difficulties.