Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva experienced a scare while returning to Brasilia from Mexico City, as his airplane had to circle the airport for four hours due to a technical problem. The aircraft, an Airbus A319, landed safely at Mexico City’s Felipe Angeles airport at 7:16 p.m. Brazil’s air force confirmed the safe landing and stated that the plane had to consume enough fuel to land safely. Lula, along with 16 other people including his first lady and members of the Cabinet, was on board the plane during the incident. Despite the technical problem, everyone on board was unharmed.
Lula had been in Mexico to attend the inauguration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and had met with former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador before departing for Brazil. The airplane encountered the technical problem shortly after departing from Mexico City, leading to hours of circling the airport before finally landing. The incident has raised concerns among Lula’s staff members on the plane, who suspect a bird strike may have been the cause of the technical issue. Aviation experts have mentioned that the protocol for landing after a bird strike involves flying close to an airport to safely dispose of fuel.
This is not the first incident involving Lula’s travel arrangements, as in January, an airplane carrying his security team faced a technical problem that prevented it from taking off during a trip to a Brazilian state. However, Brazil’s presidency assured that the staffers were never at risk during that incident. Lula’s return to Brasilia was delayed due to the technical problem, but he eventually boarded another plane to continue his journey. The Brazilian air force stated that all security procedures were successfully carried out, and the pilots had to wait for the necessary fuel consumption before returning to the airport they took off from.
The commercial airport in Mexico City where Lula’s plane landed was built on a military base by López Obrador after the cancellation of a larger partially-built airport closer to the city. Foreign dignitaries, including U.S. first lady Jill Biden, had flown into the airport for the Mexican president’s inauguration. Lula’s calm demeanor during the incident was noted by a source on the plane, who mentioned that he appeared worried but composed throughout the flight. Despite the scare, the safe landing of the aircraft and the unharmed passengers and crew were a relief for everyone involved.
As the news of the incident spread, Brazilian media reported on the speculation regarding the cause of the technical problem. The possibility of a bird strike was raised, prompting further investigation into the incident. Lula’s staff members on the plane expressed their concerns and relief after the safe landing, highlighting the importance of safety protocols in aviation. The Brazilian air force’s statement emphasized the successful execution of security procedures and the pilots’ adherence to safety measures during the incident. Lula’s safe return to Brasilia marked the end of an eventful trip to Mexico and a reminder of the unexpected challenges that can arise during air travel.
