German Foreign Minister's plane makes low pass over Larnaca

The plane carrying German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a low pass over Larnaca Airport in Cyprus without touching down, sparking curiosity and speculation. A Deutsche Welle journalist on board the aircraft provided insight into the unusual maneuver via a post on "X" (formerly Twitter).

The journalist explained that the plane's low pass symbolized the complexities of the Middle East conflict. "This sums up the conflict in the Middle East. We don't even touch the runway here in Cyprus. Not even the German Foreign Minister can fly directly from Tel Aviv to Beirut. She has to travel through Cyprus and at least show up on radar that she made a stopover," she wrote.

The reporter inquired with the pilots about such maneuvers, and they clarified that they are typically performed only during air shows. The incident highlights the delicate nature of air travel in a region fraught with political and security challenges.

Foreign Minister Baerbock's journey underscores the intricate logistics and diplomatic sensitivities involved in navigating the airspace of the Middle East. The need for a stopover in Cyprus, even without landing, reflects the ongoing tensions and the necessity for careful route planning in the region.

German FM Annalena Baerbock’s plane did not even touch the ground in Cyprus to avoid illegally traveling directly from Israel to Lebanon.

Here’s the moment the plane did a "low pass" at Larnaca airport.

I asked the pilots when they would otherwise do it: "Only at air shows." pic.twitter.com/fvxGIEPUhq

— Michaela Kuefner (@MKuefner) June 25, 2024