Australia prime minister’s flight lands in St. Louis after crew member’s head injury

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – A plane that was carrying Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to make an abrupt landing at St. Louis’ Lambert International Airport on Tuesday evening.

Albanese was returning to Australia following his trip to the United States and meeting with President Donald Trump.

Officials say a crew member suffered a medical emergency after they were struck in the head by luggage. It is believed that luggage fell from an overhead locker.

That crew member, who suffered a concussion, was taken to the hospital, officials say.

After leaving Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews at 5:15 p.m., the emergency landing happened around 7:45 p.m.

Details surrounding the severity of the crew member’s injury were limited.

On Monday, Trump and Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House as the U.S. eyes the continent’s rich rare-earth resources at a time when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad. The two leaders described the agreement as an $8.5 billion deal between the allies.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.