An airplane carrying Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva landed safely on Tuesday at Mexico City’s Felipe Angeles airport after circling for hours due to a technical problem.
Lula arrived in Mexico on Sunday and had a meeting with former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He left for Brazil after attending Sheinbaum’s inauguration Tuesday morning.
The aircraft departed in the afternoon following the inauguration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, but experienced a technical problem after leaving Mexico City.
The crew of the Airbus A319 noticed engine issue right after takeoff. Pilots suspected a borstrike.
Brazil’s air force confirmed the safe landing of the aircraft, an Airbus A319, at 7:16 p.m. local time after four hours circling the airport.
The Brazilian air force said in a statement that the aircraft had to consume enough fuel to allow it to land again safely.
A source who was traveling in the plane said Lula was calm but worried throughout the flight, which was carrying 16 people, including first lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, members of the Cabinet, lawmakers and crew.
Lula planned to board another plane to return to Brasilia later on Tuesday.
