Small crack found in ‘Wing of Zion’ windshield; not expected to delay Netanyahu’s US trip

A small crack was discovered on the cockpit windshield of Israel’s new “Air Force One” — dubbed Wing of Zion — after its inaugural flight to the US earlier this week, the Ynet news site reports.

The discovery is not expected to delay Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s flight to Washington next week, and the refurbished Boeing 767 has already landed back in Israel.

Wing of Zion took off for the US on Tuesday to bring over equipment and some security personnel ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress, after the Prime Minister’s Office discovered recently that the plane could only take 60 passengers, far less than the expected complement of aides, guards, and journalists, according to the Kan news outlet.

The PMO told Ynet that the plane “landed safely in Washington, with a small crack on the outside of the windshield. After a thorough inspection and approval from the appropriate authorities to fly home, the plane returned to Israel and landed safely. This is a common malfunction in planes and doesn’t cause any risk. At the same time, it was taken care of, and the plane will take off entirely ready for its next flight.”