John Kerry : U.S. Secretary of State flies United after Air Force 757 breaks down

Secretary of State John Kerry was forced to take a commercial flight from Hawaii to Washington, D.C., when his Air Force jet broke down, The Washington Post reports.

The Boeing 757 that Kerry normally flies on was left at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, after it began experiencing problems, according to the report.

“Finally some frequent flyer miles!” Kerry said on hearing the news that he would have to catch a commercial flight along with his staff and a travelling press corps.

Kerry has often expressed frustration with his ageing plane, which has previously run into technical problems during his global travels that has made him one of the most traveled U.S. secretaries of state.

While waiting for his flight, Kerry received a briefing from U.S. Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, and spoke with several administration and foreign officials, according to a spokesman.

Since assuming office in Feb. 1, 2013, Kerry has juggled priorities amid a virtually non-stop travel schedule that has left many around him often exasperated and exhausted.

He has already overtaken his predecessor Hillary Clinton in his first year as America’s top diplomat, clocking up 519,136 miles (835,468 km) to 51 countries in 239 days, according to State Department figures.

His plane is n Air Force Boeing 757. He flew from Hawaii on United Airlines, and was seated in first class.

Agencies/Canadajournal