Shortly before departing Turkey at the conclusion of last month’s NATO summit, President Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a different aircraft. According to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation, the president was whisked away to the secondary plane with the assistance of an airport catering truck.
This security maneuver was initiated after U.S. intelligence identified a credible threat from Iran and its proxies. Reports indicate there was a specific plot to target the president’s aircraft with a missile as it departed the Turkish capital of Ankara. During the summit, Mr. Trump had publicly acknowledged the risks associated with the ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, referring to himself as Iran’s “number one target.”
The secret plane-switching operation was first reported by The Washington Post. On July 8, hours before the departure, Mr. Trump had announced he would fly on the older Air Force One rather than the newer, Qatari-donated jet he had used to arrive in Turkey. While the president claimed he was making the switch “for old time’s sake” and to allow U.S. forces in the United Kingdom to inspect the newer aircraft, sources indicate the Secret Service had advised using the older plane for security reasons.
Video footage from the scene showed the president boarding the older Air Force One, while a catering truck remained positioned on the opposite side of the jet. Shortly thereafter, the truck moved to a different U.S. government plane, identified as an Air Force C-32A, where the president was transferred. Mr. Trump then flew to a refueling stop in the United Kingdom on the C-32A, while his staff and members of the press remained on the original Air Force One, believing they were traveling on the same aircraft as the president.
During the flight from Ankara, reporters were instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed. When questioned about this requirement later, Mr. Trump told reporters they were “probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with.” The administration never publicly disclosed that the press and staff were flying on a decoy aircraft.
Upon reaching the United Kingdom, Mr. Trump transferred to the newer Air Force One, which had been donated by Qatar last year and retrofitted by the U.S. Air Force. He later spoke with reporters while the plane crossed the Atlantic toward Washington, D.C. The president had previously mentioned that the new jet, which debuted in June, was sent for additional security upgrades following questions about its initial defensive features.
Multiple administration officials expressed frustration that these classified protective procedures were leaked, noting that such disclosures could limit future security operations. When asked about the incident, White House communications director Steven Cheung did not address the specifics of the switch. In a statement, he noted that the new Air Force One is a “state-of-the-art aircraft” equipped with advanced security protocols. He added, “As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.” The Air Force has maintained that the new presidential plane is safe, secure, and fully equipped for its mission requirements.
Source: CBS News
