Air Force One, carrying US President Donald Trump to Switzerland, returned to Washington shortly after takeoff after the crew aboard detected a "minor electrical issue." According to the White House officials, Air Force One landed safely at Joint Base Andrews near Washington to change aircraft Tuesday night.
The President is traveling to join other world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical issue. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews. The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland," the Official White House Rapid Response said in an X post.
Why Trump's Air Force One turn back midway to Switzerland?
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to return was made after takeoff when the crew aboard Air Force One identified "a minor electrical issue" and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to turn around. She further said that the President will board another aircraft upon his return and continue on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
A reporter on board said the lights in the press cabin of the aircraft went out briefly after takeoff, but no explanation was immediately offered. About half an hour into the flight, reporters were told the plane would be turning around.
Air safety incidents involving US president or vice president
Air safety incidents involving the US president or vice president are uncommon, though not without precedent.
Last February, an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Germany had to return to Washington because of a mechanical issue. In October, a military plane carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had to make an emergency landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the windshield.
In 2011, Air Force One aborted a landing due to bad weather while carrying then-President Barack Obama to an event in Connecticut. A year later, in 2012, Air Force Two, carrying then-Vice President Joe Biden, struck birds in California but landed safely without incident.
Notably, the two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for nearly four decades. Boeing has been working on replacements, but the programme has faced a series of delays.
The planes are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.
Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added into the Air Force One fleet, a move that faced great scrutiny. That plane is currently being retrofitted to meet security requirements.
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