President Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month aboard the older Air Force One jet rather than the newer Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, U.S. officials told CBS News. The decision came after U.S. intelligence detected a credible plot by Iran and allied proxy groups to fire a missile at the president's plane.

Trump initially flew to Ankara on the newly donated $400 million Air Force One, which the U.S. had retrofitted for presidential use. However, he switched to the older plane for his flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom before returning to the newer plane for the final leg back to the United States. This swap raised questions about the security of the new aircraft.

CBS News reported that the older Air Force One jets are equipped with laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles and employ diversion tactics to misdirect threats. The Secret Service advised the use of the older plane as a precaution amid escalating tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President's travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete. During that time, the President will fly on the old Air Force One."

The New York Times was the first to report on the threats from Iranian proxies. As tensions with Iran increase, President Trump has acknowledged potential threats to his safety, including a recent post on Truth Social referencing 1,000 missiles.

Sources