US President Donald Trump secretly switched aircraft after leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month because of a reported Iranian threat against his plane, according to US media reports.
The elaborate security operation reportedly saw Trump publicly board Air Force One before being transferred to a smaller military aircraft without journalists and some White House staff knowing. The Washington Post reported that the transfer was carried out using a catering truck positioned beside the aircraft.
US officials told CBS News that American authorities had detected what they considered a credible Iranian threat involving a possible missile attack on the presidential aircraft. The White House has not directly confirmed that the aircraft switch was made because of the threat.
Trump Secretly Moved to Military Aircraft
Trump arrived in Turkey aboard a newer Boeing 747-8 that had been donated by Qatar. However, he had announced that he would leave Turkey aboard the older Air Force One aircraft.
On 8 July, television footage showed Trump boarding the presidential aircraft at Ankara airport.
According to the Washington Post, Trump was subsequently moved to a C-32A military aircraft, a modified Boeing 757 commonly used by the US vice-president. The transfer allegedly took place using a catering truck that was raised to the aircraft’s level on the opposite side of the plane from where Trump had initially boarded.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly boarded the C-32A separately using external stairs, helping maintain the appearance that the presidential departure was proceeding normally.
Journalists and some White House personnel remained aboard the older Air Force One and were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades closed. They did not know that Trump had already left the aircraft.
Iran Threatened Trump, Reports Say
Trump later travelled aboard the C-32A to the UK before returning to the older Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall. It remains unclear how he transferred between the military aircraft and the presidential jet.
Trump subsequently boarded the newer Qatar-donated aircraft for the final leg of his journey to Washington.
During that flight, he spoke to reporters about the security threat from Iran but did not reveal that he had secretly changed aircraft during the journey.
When asked why reporters had been instructed to keep the window shades down on the flight from Turkey, Trump referred to the potential danger posed by what he called enemies.
He also said he faced threats to his life and claimed he was Iran’s “number one” target.
White House Does Not Confirm Plane Swap
White House communications director Steven Cheung did not directly confirm or deny reports that Trump had been moved between aircraft because of an Iranian threat.
Instead, Cheung described the newer Air Force One as a highly advanced aircraft equipped with security systems intended to protect the president and members of his administration.
US intelligence agencies had previously warned of a specific threat against Trump or his aircraft, according to earlier CBS News reporting.
The New York Times had also reported concerns surrounding the security of the Qatar-donated aircraft. According to those reports, Secret Service officials had recommended that Trump change aircraft while returning from the NATO summit.
Security Upgrades Continue on New Air Force One
The US government has spent months modifying the approximately $400m Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar for presidential use.
Older Air Force One aircraft are equipped with advanced defensive technology, including laser systems reportedly designed to counter incoming missiles. It remains unclear which comparable systems have been installed on the newer Qatar-donated aircraft.
The aircraft is expected to undergo further upgrades and enhancements in the autumn.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the new Air Force One was safe for presidential travel but would receive additional security improvements that were expected to take about a month.
The reported secret aircraft transfer highlights the level of security concerns surrounding Trump’s travel amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.