On Tuesday night, the aircraft transporting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to make an unscheduled landing shortly after departing from Washington, D.C.

The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A was rerouted and touched down safely at St. Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri, as confirmed by an Australian Defence representative speaking to Fox News.

In a statement, the spokesperson emphasized, “Our utmost concern is the well-being of the injured crew member, and we ask that their privacy be respected during this time.”

Reports from local FOX 2 indicated that a crew member sustained a head injury from luggage that apparently fell from an overhead compartment.

In a meeting in the White House’s Cabinet Room on Monday, October 20, 2025, President Donald Trump greeted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a handshake. (Evan Vucci)

That crew member reportedly suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital.

Albanese’s plane had left Joint Base Andrews at 5:15 p.m., FOX 2 reported, and the emergency landing happened around 7:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump and Albanese signed a critical minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. had been eyeing the continent’s rich rare-earth resources. This, at a time when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gestures during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 12, 2024. (Mark Baker, File)

The two leaders described the agreement as an $8.5 billion deal between the allies. Trump said it had been negotiated over several months.

“In about a year from now we’ll have so much critical mineral and rare earth that you won’t know what to do with them,” said Trump, boasting about the deal. “They’ll be worth $2.”

Xenotime is a rare earth element that can be found in Australia. (Getty Images )

Albanese added that the agreement takes the U.S.-Australia relationship “to the next level.”