Play store
US President Donald Trump switched back to the older Air Force One aircraft after the NATO summit in Türkiye, sending the new Qatari-donated presidential jet ahead to the United Kingdom before rejoining it for his return to Washington.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he had decided to send the new aircraft to RAF Mildenhall so US service members stationed there could tour it.
“Everybody is so excited, and we thought that they should be the first. For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One from Türkiye,” he wrote.
The unexpected switch, however, prompted speculation that the new aircraft’s security systems were not yet fully operational, particularly as the United States launched fresh airstrikes against Iran, which shares a border with Türkiye.
According to The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, the change was made at the request of the US Secret Service as a precautionary security measure. The report said the new aircraft still lacks some of the capabilities of the existing Air Force One, although the decision was not linked to any specific threat.
During take-off from Türkiye, reporters travelling with the president were instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed, without any official explanation.
Asked later about security concerns, Trump avoided giving a direct answer but referred to previous alleged assassination threats linked to Iran. “I speak about it a lot because the life of a president is very dangerous,” he told reporters.
Later, after boarding the new aircraft in Britain for the transatlantic flight, Trump remarked that those on board were “probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with,” in an apparent reference to Iran, which he described as “sick people.”
When asked whether there was a credible Iranian threat against him, Trump replied, “I have a threat all the time. I’m number one on their list.”
Qatar’s royal family donated the Boeing 747-8 aircraft last year after Trump repeatedly criticised the ageing presidential fleet, whose two current Air Force One jets have been in service since 1990.
The aircraft underwent rapid modifications and security upgrades before making its maiden presidential flight on July 1. It also features a new red, white and navy-blue colour scheme, replacing the traditional light blue livery.
Two new Boeing-built Air Force One aircraft are expected to enter service later this decade following years of production delays.
The acceptance of the Qatari-donated aircraft has drawn criticism from opponents and ethics experts, who have raised constitutional, ethical and security concerns over accepting a presidential aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars from a foreign government.
