Secretary of State Antony Blinken encountered an unexpected delay in his return from Switzerland on Wednesday. The delay was caused by a malfunction in his plane, a modified Boeing 737 business jet, which was deemed unsafe to fly due to an unresolved oxygen leak.

Blinken had been in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. After departing from Davos via helicopters and boarding his aircraft, he and his team were informed about the safety concerns surrounding the modified Boeing 737 business jet, which is operated by the U.S. military. Despite efforts to fix the oxygen leak, the crew was unable to resolve the issue, leading to the grounding of the aircraft.

The modified Boeing 737 jet that Secretary Blinken utilizes is owned and operated by the U.S. Air Force, based out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The base houses the special airlift mission, responsible for maintaining secure planes to transport VIPs, including the president, vice president, and cabinet secretaries.

It is worth noting that the Boeing 737-700, known as the C-40 in military terms, is a different model from the troubled Boeing MAX family of aircraft associated with recent consumer flight issues. The Air Force stated that their upgraded 737-700 has been in service since 2003 and maintains a solid safety record.

According to a U.S. official, Secretary Blinken is expected to return on Wednesday evening using a different government Boeing plane. Meanwhile, his staff and the accompanying press pool have already departed for Washington using commercial aircraft.

The delay and subsequent aircraft malfunction highlight the importance of stringent safety measures when it comes to air travel, particularly for high-ranking government officials. The incident serves as a reminder of the continuous efforts undertaken by the U.S. military to ensure the safety and security of those entrusted with important diplomatic missions.