QUITO, Jan 31, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – A plane carrying Ecuadoran President Lenin
Moreno was forced to make an emergency landing Saturday in Washington at the
end of an official visit, the country’s communications ministry announced.
Moreno and several members of his government traveling with him were “all
fine,” the announcement said.
“The president’s plane suffered a mechanical failure a few minutes after
takeoff from Washington DC and had to make an emergency landing,” the
ministry said.
“Moreno and all occupants of the plane are fine and will return to Ecuador
in the coming hours,” it added.
The statement provided no details on the nature of the mechanical defect or
the circumstances surrounding the landing.
The Ecuadoran leader, whose four-year term ends on May 24, had just
completed an official visit that included meetings with officials in the new
administration of President Joe Biden.
He also met with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the
International Monetary Fund. The IMF in September had granted a $6.5 billion
credit to the South American country.