President Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey earlier in July 2026 aboard an 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, Turkey, on the new $400 million Air Force One, which the U.S. had accepted from Qatar and retrofitted for presidential use. However, for the departure from Turkey to the United Kingdom, he switched to the older Air Force One jet before returning to the new plane for the final leg back to the United States.

The older Air Force One jets are equipped with laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles and employ diversion systems, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. This capability influenced the Secret Service's recommendation for Trump to use 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 initial news of threats from Iranian proxies was first reported by The New York Times. The swap between planes raised questions about the security of the newer aircraft.

As the conflict with Iran intensifies, President Trump has acknowledged possible threats to his safety, including a recent post on Truth Social referencing 1,000 missiles potentially aimed at U.S. targets.

Sources