The United States Secret Service reportedly advised President Donald Trump to depart Türkiye on the old Air Force One instead of the new Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8. This recommendation was made as a security precaution amid renewed hostilities with Iran, which borders Türkiye.
Sources familiar with the plans, speaking anonymously to the New York Times and ABC News, indicated the aircraft switch was not due to a specific threat. The substitution raised questions about whether the new jet, gifted by the Qatari royal family in May 2025, had been adequately retrofitted with necessary safety measures.
President Trump had previously urged for the refurbishing of the $400 million luxury jet to be completed promptly. He flew the new plane, dubbed the "flying palace," to Ankara on Monday for a NATO summit, marking its first international use.
Following the summit, fighting between the US and Iran escalated. On Wednesday, Trump denied that security concerns motivated the aircraft change, stating he chose the old plane "for old time's sake" and so the new jet could stop at a US military base in England, allowing troops a "chance to tour the Aircraft."
When asked about the closed window blinds during the flight from Türkiye to the UK, Trump suggested it was due to "sleazebags over here," apparently referring to Iran.
Several US politicians and officials expressed security and ethics concerns after Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth accepted the jet from Qatar. Trump dismissed these concerns, calling it "stupid" not to accept the gift.
Estimates on the cost to refurbish the jet to Air Force One standards vary. Democrats and Pentagon officials cited by the New York Times estimate the cost exceeds $1 billion, while the US Air Force states the retrofitting cost is closer to $400 million.
Loading comments.