President Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month aboard the older Air Force One jet instead of the newer plane donated 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 president's 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 Boeing 747-8 Air Force One, which the U.S. accepted as a gift from Qatar last year and retrofitted for presidential use. However, he switched to the older Air Force One for the flight from Ankara to the United Kingdom before returning to the U.S. on the newer plane.

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 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, noting on Truth Social earlier this month that 1,000 missiles were "for immediate use if Iran attempts to assassinate him."

Sources