New Zealand’s PM’s 30-year-old plane was so likely to break down that he had to take a backup during his trip to China.

The United States has Air Force One. An aircraft that can refuel in the air and serve as the presidential command center. And New Zealand has Betty, an old Boeing 757 that officials admitted was so at risk of breaking down that they sent an empty backup to make sure Prime Minister Chris Hipkins didn’t get stranded in China. where he is leading a business delegation.

New Zealand officials have acknowledged that there is a possibility of the Prime Minister’s plane breaking down and not getting stuck in China. In view of this, a backup aircraft has also been sent with them. Officials also noted that they have flown the aircraft only to Manila, which is 80 percent of the distance from Wellington to Beijing. In New Zealand, Acting Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni had to provide an explanation.

The twin Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft carrying the prime minister are nearly 30 years old and are due to be replaced by 2030. Over the years they have been regularly deteriorating. In 2016 the then Prime Minister John Key was on his way to India with a delegation when he got stuck in Australia until a backup aircraft was dispatched from New Zealand.