Thuringia’s Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) had to interrupt his trip to Chile late on Sunday evening. Because there were bird strikes after the departure in Leipzig, the machine had to land in Cologne, as a spokeswoman for the State Chancellery said early Monday morning. Ramelow was on his way to the South American country at the end of his one-year presidency of the Federal Council. On Twitter he said: “Bird strike on the Airbus A350 of the German Air Mission Forced break in Cologne.”
The plane landed there around 11:30 p.m., the spokeswoman said. “The current status is that we are staying overnight in Cologne and at the same time the plane is being checked for possible damage.” The onward flight is scheduled for Monday. The bird strike came soon after the start in Leipzig.
“The Bundeswehr’s flight readiness department at Cologne/Bonn Airport reacted at lightning speed and is already in the process of assessing the damage,” the State Chancellery tweeted. In Ramelow’s tweet it says: “The Kurt Schumacher will be thoroughly examined and hopefully made fit for the onward flight for tomorrow. Safety first!”
The first stop of the one-week trip should be the city of Antofagasta, after which it should go on to the capital Santiago de Chile. Ramelow is accompanied by a business delegation. In addition to political appointments, company visits and business talks were also planned.
At the beginning of November, the Presidency of the Federal Council will go to Hamburg’s Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD). The symbolic handing over of the baton took place at the central celebration of the Day of German Unity, which was hosted by Thuringia’s state capital Erfurt this year. The presidency of the regional chamber changes annually between the prime ministers. The order is regulated in an agreement from 1950.
Tweet by Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow Tweet by the State Chancellery of Thuringia on the readiness to fly of the Bundeswehr Tweet by the State Chancellery of Thuringia on the start of the Prime Minister
