Air Force One, carrying US President Donald Trump, returned to Joint Base Andrews Air Base about an hour after taking off for Switzerland on Tuesday evening due to a technical issue. The White House stated that the decision to return was taken as a precautionary measure.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the aircraft crew detected a “minor electrical issue” shortly after take-off and, in accordance with safety procedures, decided to turn the aircraft back.
According to one of the journalists on board, the lights in the press cabin went out shortly after take-off, but no official information was provided at first. Approximately half an hour into the flight, journalists were informed that the aircraft would be returning.
Trump Continued His Journey on an Alternative Aircraft
After Air Force One returned to the base, President Trump transferred to a modified US Air Force Boeing 757 (C-32), an aircraft typically used for the president’s domestic travel to smaller airports. Trump continued his journey on this aircraft shortly after midnight to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Age of the Air Force One Fleet and the Delayed Replacement Programme
The two main aircraft in the US Air Force inventory that use the “Air Force One” call sign have been in service for nearly 40 years. Although Boeing continues to work on new presidential aircraft to replace them, the project has long been facing delays.
The current aircraft are equipped with extraordinary security measures, including radiation shielding, missile defence systems, and advanced communications infrastructure that enables the president to maintain global command authority.
Qatari-Gifted Boeing 747 Had Sparked Controversy
Last year, Qatar’s ruling family gifted a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added to the Air Force One fleet. Following intense security and ethical debates, the aircraft was placed into a modernisation process to meet presidential standards.
While chatting with journalists aboard Air Force One on Tuesday night, Press Secretary Leavitt jokingly referred to the aircraft from Qatar, saying, “It sounds much better right now.”
Recent Similar Aviation Incidents
This incident is not the first technical malfunction involving military aircraft carrying senior US officials. Last February, a US Air Force aircraft carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Germany returned to Washington due to a mechanical issue. In October, a military aircraft carrying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was forced to make an emergency landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in its windscreen.
