Trump Forced to Swap Aircraft at NATO Summit After Credible Iranian Threat
President Trump switched from a new Qatar-gifted Air Force One to an older backup plane when leaving the NATO summit in Turkey after U.S. officials detected a credible threat of missile attack from Iranian proxy forces. The new plane lacked advanced defensive systems compared to the older aircraft.
The Incident
President Trump was forced to switch aircraft to his old Air Force One after U.S. officials identified a "credible threat" that Iranian proxy forces were seeking to harm him. Trump departed the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month on the old Air Force One jet — rather than the newer plane donated by Qatar — following a credible threat to the president from Iran and allied proxy groups.
The Threat Assessment
The officials told CBS News that the U.S. detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the plane. Officials judged the threat credible enough that Trump abruptly swapped the new Qatari-gifted 747 — which lacks the old plane's defensive systems — for the older Air Force One when leaving Ankara. Upon receiving the intelligence, the U.S. Secret Service swiftly swapped to a backup strategy.
The Aircraft Details
Trump flew to the Turkish capital of Ankara on the newly donated Air Force One, a $400 million Boeing 747-8 that the U.S. accepted as a gift from the Qatari government last year and spent months retrofitting to prepare for it to carry the president. After the summit wrapped up, Mr. Trump flew from Ankara to the United Kingdom in the old Air Force One, before switching back to the newer plane to complete his trip back to the United States.
Trump's Response
Trump downplayed it publicly, calling himself Iran's "No. 1 target" while dodging direct questions on the switch. Trump said he would be flying home in an older plane used as Air Force One "for old time's sake". The incident highlighted security vulnerabilities with the newly gifted aircraft and the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.