Should politicians just stay off of airplanes?

By Laura Bohnert

Is the latest conspiracy against political leaders being perpetrated by our own aircraft?

Less than a month after the tragic death of former Premier of Alberta Jim Prentice, the RCAF Airbus Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was flying on was forced back to Ottawa due to a mechanical issue.

On Saturday October 29, the pilot of the RCAF Airbus turned around and landed the plane at the Ottawa International Airport a mere half hour after take-off after encountering mechanical issues.

As RCAF spokesperson Captain Wright Eruebi explains, an indicator light came on notifying the pilot that the plane’s flaps were stuck.  The pilot made the decision to return to Ottawa where the mechanical issue, one which is described by Eruebi to be a rare occurrence, was quickly resolved by maintenance personnel.

The Prime Minister was on his way to Brussels where he was due to sign a trade deal with the European Union.  Despite complications, the flight was in the air again within an hour, and the trade agreement was signed the following day.

The issue is under investigation, and it is too early to know whether or not the issue could have been detected before takeoff, Eruebi adds; however, the aircraft did not declare an emergency during its return, and the passengers were not determined to be in any danger as a result of the malfunction.

Air travel is an anxiety-inducing experience for many, but it has proved especially hazardous for politicians, historically as well as within the past 2 decades.  In fact, close to 100 politicians were killed in aircraft-related incidents across the globe since 2010 alone.

On April 10, 2010, 60-year-old President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, was killed in a military jet after it crashed into a forest in Russia while attempting to land in dense fog.  Ninety-six people were killed on the flight, including the president’s wife and 86 other high-ranking government officials.

On August 9, 2010, Former Senator from Alaska Dillingham, Ted Stevens, was killed when a floatplane crashed on a mountainside during rain and fog conditions.  Stevens was one of 5 killed of the 9 aboard the flight.

And on October 13, 2016, Former Alberta Premier, Jim Prentice, was killed in Winfield, B.C. when the Cessna he was on board crashed 8 minutes after takeoff, killing all 4 on board.

It’s one reason to be leery of allowing political leaders on board aircraft—one that, for a change, doesn’t involve an expense scandal.