Business leaders call for replacement of presidential plane

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SANTIAGO. -  Business leaders Alfredo Ovalle and Ronald Brown have requested an immediate replacement of the presidential plane. The two men were on their way to China with President Bachelet when the Boeing 707 suffered a technical complication in one of its motors. 

Alfredo Ovalle, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Production (CPC), told Radio Cooperativa that a new plane is needed “as soon as possible”.  Ovalle is scheduled to resume his trip to China this afternoon.

The head of the export sector, Ronald Brown, made a similar argument, stating that the presidential aircraft has been in need of a replacement “for quite some time” due to safety reasons.

The schedule that had been prepared for the President will need to undergo some changes, which are being looked into by the sub secretary of Foreign Affairs, Alberto Van Klaveren, who resumed his trip to China 7 hours later alongside President Bachelet on a G-4 jet belonging to the Chilean Air Force.

Representatives and business leaders are expected to recommence their trip to China at 3:15 PM today after Air Force personnel have repaired or replaced the damaged engine.