US President Donald Trump reportedly made a secret aircraft switch in Turkey last month as part of a security operation linked to an alleged Iranian threat, according to reports by The Washington Post and The New York Times. The reported operation involved Trump leaving the older Air Force One through an airport catering vehicle before secretly moving to a smaller US Air Force C-32A aircraft.
Trump had travelled to Turkey on a new aircraft gifted by Qatar, which is expected to eventually serve as Air Force One. However, officials later announced that he would leave Turkey on an older presidential aircraft. According to the reports, that announcement was reportedly part of a security plan designed to protect the president.
After boarding the older Air Force One, Trump reportedly left the aircraft through a catering vehicle and transferred to the smaller C-32A. The Qatari-gifted aircraft, the older Air Force One and the C-32A then reportedly departed Turkey separately for the United Kingdom. Trump later boarded the Qatari-gifted aircraft at RAF Mildenhall and continued his journey back to the United States.
Details from the presidential travel pool have added to the unusual nature of the incident. Reports said Trump was aboard the older Air Force One in Ankara at around 8:26 pm local time, with the aircraft taking off at approximately 8:43 pm. Journalists travelling with the president were also reportedly instructed to keep the window shades in the press cabin closed.
The instruction was unusual and appeared to suggest that officials were taking additional security precautions. Trump later told reporters that they were probably on a dangerous flight because of security concerns. Video from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport also reportedly showed a catering truck parked beside the older Air Force One shortly before the aircraft began taxiing.
After landing at RAF Mildenhall in England, the presidential travel pool reportedly waited around 20 minutes before being informed that the usual camera position for Trump’s arrival was ready. CNN reported that the timing was unusual compared with normal presidential travel procedures.
CNN also reviewed footage from Mildenhall that reportedly showed the aircraft door already open and the stairs already positioned when journalists were ready to record Trump’s arrival. There also appeared to be more security personnel on the tarmac than normally seen during presidential travel.
Trump later boarded the new Qatari-gifted aircraft at around 11:01 pm, according to pool reports. He eventually travelled back to the United States and landed at Joint Base Andrews, where he left the aircraft and entered the presidential vehicle known as The Beast.
The White House has not publicly confirmed every detail of the reported aircraft switch. White House spokesperson Steven Cheung told CNN that the new Air Force One has high-level security systems and said officials use every available tool to protect the president and his staff because of threats against Trump.
The incident has also renewed attention on the Qatari-gifted aircraft. Trump had previously praised the new plane, while officials had raised concerns about its security because it still requires major modifications before it can fully operate as Air Force One.
Trump previously said the decision to use another aircraft was made to give US service members stationed at the base an opportunity to tour the new plane. When asked whether there were other problems, he reportedly said there were no issues. He also explained the instruction to close the window shades by saying the journalists were potentially on a dangerous flight.
The reported Trump plane switch in Turkey has now raised questions about the security threat that prompted such an unusual operation. Reports have linked the security plan to concerns involving Iran, but the full nature of the alleged threat has not been publicly disclosed. The incident highlights the extensive security measures involved in presidential travel and the challenges officials face while protecting the US president during international visits.