Defence Force plane fixed after breaking down in Papua New Guinea, en route to Japan to pick up Luxon and trade delegation

The Defence Force plane that broke down in Papaua New Guinea has been repaired and is headed to Japan to collect Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his full trade delegation.

About 30 of the country’s top businesspeople plus Trade Minister Todd McClay, government officials, a kapa haka group and media were stranded in Papua New Guinea overnight Sunday after the Defence Force 757 broke down during a refuelling stop on its way to Japan for a trade trip.

The Air Force plane blew a fuse, a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) spokesman said. When the fuse was replaced, it blew again. It was the latest incident in a string of breakdowns.

Prime Minister Luxon jumped on a commercial flight to Japan, via Hong Kong, as soon as plane issues emerged on Sunday.

In a statement this evening, Defence Minister Judith Collins confirmed NZDF personnel had worked “through the night” and repaired the fault with the Boeing 757.

“It is now on its way to Tokyo, via Cairns, to bring the full delegation home.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s international travel plans had to be altered after a minor breakdown on an NZDF Boeing 757 aircraft in Papua New Guinea.

“Huge thanks to the NZDF team who have worked so hard to make this happen,” Collins said.

Collins earlier called the situation embarrassing and said the constant breakdowns may see the Prime Minister travel commercially from now on.

It was an opinion echoed by University of Waikato international law professor Al Gillespie, who said other countries would make fun of New Zealand because of the poor state of the Defence Force plane.

“It’s a reputational thing. Diplomacy is about the presentation of gravitas, whereby you show that you deserve respect and you arrive with seriousness and purpose.

“A degree of authority is everything in diplomacy, from the clothes you wear to the way you hold yourselves and your etiquette. It’s all centuries old – making sure other countries respect you and that they can see you’re someone to do business with.

“So [the plane trouble] is something which just doesn’t look that great. People will make fun of something like this. It doesn’t help to convince other countries that you’re serious, respectable and reliable,” Gillespie told the Herald.

Business delegation, kapa haka group, govt officials, Trade minister and media leaving Papua New Guinea for Brisbane on the NZDF 757. Photo / Jenée Tibshraeny

Around 30 of the country’s top businesspeople, Trade Minister McClay, government officials, a kapa haka group and media continued their journey to Japan from Brisbane yesterday morning.

With an Air New Zealand flight making an unexpected stop to pick up the official delegation, airline chief executive Greg Foran boarded the flight and directly apologised to passengers for the disruption.

After the plane was airborne, he and Air New Zealand chairwoman Dame Therese Walsh helped the flight attendants by handing out drinks from the food trolley.

Part of the bill for the change of plan would likely fall on taxpayers. The exact cost was unknown at this stage.

Collins said it was “difficult” to spend money on new planes during the cost-of-living crisis.

“No Prime Minister wants to spend a lot of money on something deemed as ‘nice to have’,” Collins said.

Defence Minister Judith Collins says the repeated aircraft breakdowns are embarrassing. Photo / RNZ

The incident is the latest in a string of embarrassing breakdowns involving Defence Force aircraft.

In March, a fault with the NZDF plane also forced the Prime Minister to fly commercially to Melbourne.

After several delays, media were told Luxon had been advised to fly on a commercial service after a maintenance fault was identified on the plane.

He was headed across the Tasman to meet leaders of southeast Asian nations on the sidelines of a special Australia-Asean summit.

Luxon missed two meetings due to his late arrivals.

Collins said at the time it was embarrassing the aircraft had broken down.

Last year, a backup Boeing 757 had to be sent to Asia in case of a breakdown of the NZDF plane carrying then Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his delegation to China.

The move attracted international attention and criticism from National and Act, who called it a source of national embarrassment.

In an interview with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking last Tuesday morning, Luxon said he had “every confidence” regarding the plane when asked.

“I get more building confidence every time I get on the plane,” he said at the time.

Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.