The plane carrying Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday night after departing Washington, DC, due to an onboard injury.
The aircraft, a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A, safely diverted and landed at St Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, a defence spokesperson confirmed to Fox News. "Our highest priority is providing support to the injured member and request that their privacy be respected," the statement said.
Officials told local FOX 2 that a crew member was struck in the head by luggage, believed to have fallen from an overhead bin. The individual reportedly suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital.
Albanese’s plane had left Joint Base Andrews at 5.15 pm, with the emergency landing occurring around 7.45 pm, FOX 2 reported.
The prime minister had been in Washington for a high-profile visit, where he and US President Donald Trump signed a critical minerals deal. The $8.5 billion agreement aims to strengthen US-Australia cooperation in rare-earth resources amid China’s tighter export rules.
"In about a year from now we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won’t know what to do with them," Trump said, adding, "They’ll be worth $2."
Albanese described the agreement as a major step forward, saying it takes the US-Australia relationship "to the next level."
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