Trump Chooses Older Air Force One Over Qatar-Gifted Jet For Turkey Return Flight

US President Donald Trump travelled part of the way back from a NATO summit in Turkey aboard an older Air Force One aircraft rather than the newly unveiled Qatari-gifted jet, a surprise change that came as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated following renewed exchanges of strikes. The aircraft switch triggered questions over the security features of the new plane, which had recently been showcased by Trump as a future presidential transport option. Trump had arrived in Turkey aboard the newly modified Boeing 747-800 aircraft gifted by Qatar, often referred to as the “bridge” aircraft because it is expected to serve temporarily before the arrival of the permanent next-generation Air Force One planes.

However, while returning to the United States, he flew first aboard one of the older Boeing VC-25A aircraft that have served as Air Force One for more than three decades. The older aircraft carried Trump from Turkey to Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the United Kingdom, where the president met US service members stationed at the base. After greeting troops, Trump boarded the newer Qatari aircraft, which had already been flown to Mildenhall, and continued his journey to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington. Trump said the unscheduled stop at Mildenhall was planned so military personnel could view the new aircraft.

He said flying on the older Air Force One was done “for old time’s sake” and denied that concerns over possible threats from Iran influenced the decision. The president said both aircraft were scheduled to visit the UK base with minimal changes to their flight paths. The aircraft swap took place shortly after US military strikes against targets in Iran and amid continuing hostilities between Washington and Tehran. When asked by reporters whether there were credible threats against Air Force One from Iran, Trump said he was already a major target for assassination attempts and repeated his claim that he was high on Iran’s list of potential targets.

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The decision also renewed scrutiny over the security capabilities of the Qatari aircraft. Aviation and defence experts have raised questions about whether the jet contains all the advanced protective systems found on the existing Air Force One fleet, including missile warning and countermeasure technology. Images of the aircraft after its unveiling showed differences compared with the older presidential jets, although officials have not disclosed specific security details.

The White House defended the aircraft’s safety standards, saying the new Air Force One had been fitted with high-level security protocols to protect the president and staff. Officials said the administration uses various methods, including operational measures intended to reduce predictability, to address potential threats. The US Air Force has previously stated that the Qatari aircraft underwent rapid modifications to enter service but that some highly complex engineering upgrades planned for the permanent Air Force One replacements were not included. The service said the temporary aircraft was delivered without accepting risks related to security, safety or secure communications.

The older Air Force One planes were designed during the Cold War era and include several specialised features, such as anti-missile countermeasures, secure communication systems and the ability to operate during major national emergencies. They are also capable of aerial refuelling, though that capability has never been used with a president aboard. The permanent replacement aircraft, based on Boeing 747-8 jets currently being modified, have faced delays and are now expected to enter service in 2028. Until then, the existing fleet and the newly converted Qatari aircraft are expected to support presidential travel operations.

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