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

Trump initially flew to Ankara, Turkey, on the new $400 million Air Force One, which the U.S. received as a gift from Qatar last year and retrofitted for presidential use. However, for his departure from Ankara to the United Kingdom, he switched to the older Air Force One jet before returning to the U.S. on the newer plane.

CBS News reported that the swap was made at the suggestion of the Secret Service as a precaution amid escalating tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict. The older Air Force One jets are equipped with laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles and employ diversion systems to misdirect threats, sources familiar with the matter said.

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 initial news of threats from Iranian proxies was first reported by The New York Times. U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that the missile threat was credible, prompting heightened security measures for the president's travel.

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

Sources