Trump switches to older Air Force One after intelligence reports missile threat
U.S. officials said a credible missile plot prompted the Secret Service to have President Trump use the older Air Force One for his departure from Turkey, while upgrades are completed on the newer Qatar-donated aircraft.
President Donald Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey on the older Air Force One aircraft after U.S. intelligence identified a credible plot to target the plane with a missile, officials told CBS News. The Secret Service activated a backup plan and transferred the president to the legacy Boeing 747, which is equipped with laser-based missile-deflection technology, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The newer Boeing 747-8, a $400 million gift from Qatar that had been retrofitted for presidential use, was used for the inbound flight to Ankara but was not employed for the outbound leg to the United Kingdom and the United States. The White House said the newer jet will undergo additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall, a process expected to take about a month, during which time the president will continue to travel on the older aircraft.
"The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President's travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Trump later noted that the older plane already has substantial capabilities and will be "maxed out" after the upcoming upgrades. The incident follows heightened tensions with Iran, which the president has referenced in recent statements about potential threats to his safety.