US President Donald Trump underwent a covert aircraft exchange while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey last month after US intelligence detected a credible Iranian threat, according to reports from American media outlets.
Donald Trump secretly transferred from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft while departing a NATO summit in Ankara last month, according to reports by the Washington Post and CBS News. The manoeuvre involved Trump boarding the presidential jet in full view of cameras before being transported via an elevated catering truck to a C-32A military aircraft—a modified Boeing 757 typically used by the US vice-president. Journalists and White House staff aboard Air Force One were reportedly instructed to close their window shades and were unaware the president had left the aircraft.
US officials told CBS News that American intelligence had detected a credible Iranian threat to launch a missile at Trump's plane. Trump had previously described himself as Iran's "number one target" during the summit. The aircraft swap occurred one day after the US resumed military strikes on Iran following a breakdown in negotiations. The White House has not officially confirmed the plane exchange, though communications director Steven Cheung emphasized the safety features of the new Air Force One without directly addressing the reports.
The elaborate security procedure involved Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boarding the C-32A separately using external stairs to maintain the appearance of normalcy. Trump ultimately flew to the UK before transferring back to the older Air Force One and eventually boarding a newer Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar for his return to Washington. During a subsequent flight, Trump acknowledged ongoing threats from Iran but did not mention the plane swap.
The New York Times had previously reported that the Secret Service recommended Trump switch aircraft due to security concerns with the Qatari-donated jet. The $400 million Boeing 747-8 has undergone months of retrofitting, though older Air Force One models possess laser technology to blind incoming missiles, according to sources familiar with the aircraft. The White House stated the new jet will receive additional security upgrades in the autumn.
