Jordanian Throng Hails King’s Return After Surgery

AMMAN, Jordan — King Hussein returned to Jordan on Thursday after cancer surgery in the United States and received a tumultuous welcome from cheering subjects.

Sixteen French-built Mirage jet fighters escorted the royal aircraft, with the monarch at the controls, as it entered Jordanian air space.

More than a million well-wishers cheered as the planes passed overhead, emitting contrails in the red, green and white colors of the Jordanian flag.

As the Boeing 737 touched down at Marka Military Base, near Amman, the king received a 21-gun salute. The monarch, wearing a blue suit and red-and-white headdress, alighted onto a red carpet accompanied by Queen Noor.

Hussein was returning after five weeks in the United States, his longest absence from his kingdom in four decades of rule. He underwent surgery last month at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where surgeons removed cancerous cells in his left ureter and left kidney.

Relatives and about 1,000 government officials, legislators, diplomats and dignitaries were on hand to greet the 57-year-old monarch. He reviewed a military honor guard but made no comments at the airport.