Originally Posted by
AndiKunzi
And since this is PPRuNe here, some experts not only do already know what happened, but those experts also know the root cause (maintenance and age) and who was responsible for that in the QMS.
From the article linked above:
The pilot informed the chancellor and other passengers that a technical defect had caused the "malfunction of several electronic systems" on the Airbus A340-300.
According to multiple German media outlets, the aircraft experienced problems with its radio equipment, but the pilot said there had been no safety risks. German news magazine Der Spiegel reported the crew had to use an onboard satellite phone in order to plan the landing.
They were squawking 7600 inbound to Cologne according to ADS-B tracking logs. Latest reports seem to indicate that they had a massive failure in their comm radios.
According to
Der Spiegel there was a backup plane in Berlin but it was decided to be too risky to fly all the way to TXL lost comm and the decision was made to land overweight in CGN on 14L. Fire trucks were rolled to spray the hot brakes.
The Chancellor and her entourage were bussed to an official residence in Bonn to spend the night. Another Luftwaffe plane is scheduled to fly out in the morning to MAD to put the VIP's on Iberia 6849 MAD-EZE. Perhaps the backup plane has its own problems and they trust a scheduled airline more for the long trip.
The Luftwaffe's problems with aircraft readiness even in the VIP fleet are nothing new as others have observed here.