President Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month aboard an older Air Force One jet instead of the newer plane donated by Qatar, due to a credible threat from Iran and its 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 president's plane. The initial report of threats from Iranian proxies was first published by The New York Times.

Trump flew to Ankara, Turkey, on the newly donated $400 million Boeing 747-8 Air Force One, a gift from the Qatari government that the U.S. spent months retrofitting to carry the president. 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.

This switch raised questions about the security of the new aircraft. 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 planes are equipped with laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles and employ diversion tactics 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 post on Truth Social referencing 1,000 missiles.

Sources