US President Donald Trump is facing questions about the security of his newly gifted Air Force One plane from Qatar. The retrofitted Boeing 747-8 aircraft recently made its maiden international trip to Ankara, Turkey, sparking excitement from the president.

However, during the visit, Trump abruptly announced in Turkey that he was sending the luxury plane ahead to a British airbase so US troops could tour the aircraft donated by the Qatari royal family. This move raised eyebrows given the ongoing hostilities between the US and Iran, which borders Turkey.

The New York Times reported that the new plane lacks the same security countermeasures as the older jet, including anti-missile defenses. US media also reported that the Secret Service advised switching to the older plane for certain flights. Journalists traveling on the older plane from Ankara were instructed to keep their window blinds down, a precaution typically reserved for war zones.

Trump denied any security concerns but referenced alleged Iranian assassination attempts after switching back to the new plane for the flight from the UK to Washington.

Sources