President Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month aboard an older Air Force One jet instead of the newer Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar, due to a credible threat from Iran and allied proxy groups, according to U.S. officials cited by CBS News.

Officials revealed that U.S. intelligence detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the presidential plane. The New York Times initially reported on threats from Iranian proxies.

Trump flew to Ankara, Turkey, on the new $400 million Air Force One, which the U.S. accepted from Qatar last year and retrofitted for presidential use. However, he switched to the older plane for his flight from Ankara to the United Kingdom, before returning to the newer plane for the final leg back 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 escalating tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Sources told CBS News that the older Air Force One jets are equipped with laser technology designed to blind incoming missiles and employ diversion technologies 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 possible 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