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, due to a credible threat from Iran and allied proxy groups, U.S. officials told CBS News.

Officials revealed that the U.S. detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the plane. The New York Times was the first to report on threats from Iranian proxies.

Trump initially flew to Ankara, Turkey, on the newly donated $400 million Air Force One, which the U.S. accepted from Qatar last year and retrofitted for presidential use. However, he flew from Ankara to the United Kingdom on the older Air Force One before switching back to the newer plane for the final leg to the United States.

This swap raised questions about the security of the new plane. CBS News reported that the decision to use the older plane was made at the suggestion of the Secret Service as a precaution amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.

Sources familiar with the matter told CBS News that the older Air Force One jets are equipped with laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles and employ diversion systems to misdirect threats.

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."

As tensions with Iran escalate, President Trump has acknowledged potential threats to his safety, including a recent claim on Truth Social about 1,000 missiles.

Sources