UN chief’s plane diverted due to volcanic ashes
June 14th, 2011 - 10:17 am ICT by IANSBuenos Aires (Argentina), June 14 (IANS) UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon’s plane had to be diverted to land, 700 kilometres west of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, Monday due to the ashes from Puyehue Volcano eruption in Chile, Xinhua reported.
Ban told reporters that he was taken to the official residence of Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez in Buenos Aires overland from Cordoba’s airport in a trip which took almost eight hours.
“It has been exhausting. Six hours from Bogota, Colombia to Cordoba and then eight hours by bus, but I do not regret my decision,” said Ban.
“It was a singular experience. This trip allowed me to see the landscape, relax and rest,” he said.
Ban, who celebrated his 67th birthday Monday, arrived in Argentina as part of a tour to Latin America that also includes visits in Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil to seek support for a second term as the UN’s secretary-general.
Argentina’s air space continues to be affected by the ashes from the Puyehue Volcano which erupted June 6 for the first time since 1960. The eruption has created flight chaos across South America.
- Volcano ash forces Argentine flight cancellations - Jun 08, 2011
- Australia suspends flights due to Chile volcanic ash - Jun 12, 2011
- Volcano erupts in Chile - Jun 05, 2011
- Australian flights cancelled due to Chile volcanic ash - Jun 12, 2011
- UN chief seeks to ease Falkland tensions - Feb 11, 2012
- Buenos Aires airports reopen as volcanic ash clears - Oct 18, 2011
- Argentine government takes over train operator after crash - Feb 29, 2012
- Former president Kirchner's death stuns Argentina - Oct 28, 2010
- Argentina, Ecuador win opening FIFA World Cup qualifiers - Oct 08, 2011
- Argentine president announces return of Formula One - Mar 15, 2012
- Argentine ruling party seeks blood donors for president - Jan 01, 2012
- UAE foreign minister visits Argentina - Mar 16, 2012
- Indian conquers the Andes in Latin America (With Image) - Mar 27, 2012
- 49 dead, 600 injured in railway accident in Argentina - Feb 23, 2012
- Cristina Fernandez re-elected president of Argentina - Oct 24, 2011
Tags: air space, aires argentina, ban ki moon, bogota colombia, capital of argentina, chaos, colombia uruguay, cristina fernandez, eight hours, june 14, kilometres, latin america, second term, singular experience, six hours, south america, un secretary general, volcanic ashes, volcano eruption, xinhua