President Donald Trump flew back from the NATO summit in Turkey aboard an older Air Force One aircraft instead of the newly retrofitted Boeing 747-800 gifted by Qatar, a last-minute switch that has reignited questions over the interim jet’s security capabilities amid escalating tensions with Iran.
The decision came as the US and Iran exchanged fresh strikes, less than a day after the US military launched major attacks inside Iran in retaliation for Tehran’s alleged attacks on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump offered little explanation for the aircraft change, saying he chose to travel on the older Air Force One “for old time’s sake”. He added that both aircraft would make an unscheduled stop at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom.
In a post on social media, Trump said the newer aircraft would stop at the base so military personnel could “tour the aircraft”, while he would return to Washington aboard the aircraft that has served as Air Force One for decades.
