PM’s plane forced to make unscheduled landing in US
Zac de Silva and Tess Ikonomou |
An Air Force plane carrying the prime minister home from his meeting with Donald Trump has been forced to make an unscheduled landing after a mid-air incident.
The aircraft touched down in St Louis, Missouri so a RAAF member could be treated after knocking their head.
Travelling media were told the plane would top up its fuel and then continue its journey to Australia.
Anthony Albanese is jetting home from Washington DC, buoyed by his successful meeting with the US president, which ended with a multi-billion-dollar minerals deal and reassurances on AUKUS.
“It was a terrific meeting, it couldn’t have gone better,” Mr Albanese said on Wednesday.
The prime minister revealed he gave Melania Trump some jewellery and the president a small model of a submarine – a subtle reference to Australia’s interest in acquiring nuclear submarines.
The meeting could lay the groundwork for the president to pull additional levers to accelerate Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, the first of which it plans to buy from the United States early next decade.
Mr Trump gave his strongest commitment to date to the $368 billion project, ending months of uncertainty over whether he supported the deal.
Asked if the submarines would be delivered to Australia, he replied: “Oh no, they’re getting them”.
“We’re just going full steam ahead building,” he told reporters in the White House Cabinet Room.
Mr Trump suggested the US might fast-track delivery of the vessels, but wouldn’t give a timeline.
Experts questioned whether the timeline of the AUKUS deal was viable, given the US is struggling to meet its targets for submarine production.
Perth USAsia Centre chief executive Gordon Flake said the Trump administration needed to do more to shore up its defence industrial base, but was optimistic about Australia receiving its submarines on time.
As part of the White House meeting, Mr Trump and Mr Albanese signed a historic $13 billion agreement on rare earth and critical minerals processing, which is being seen as an attempt by the US to counter China’s hold on the market.
The prime minister and Dr Rudd also met with members of Congress, including Democrat House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Mr Albanese’s last Washington event was a meeting with top executives from BHP and business leaders to celebrate the mining giant’s 140th anniversary and advocate for Australia’s resources sector.
AAP
