Quick Read
- President Trump’s Air Force One flight to Davos returned to Joint Base Andrews due to a ‘minor electrical issue.’
- The incident occurred over the Atlantic Ocean, off Long Island, an hour into the flight.
- Trump departed for Davos on a backup aircraft approximately an hour after the original plane landed.
- The Boeing 747 jets serving as Air Force One have been in service for over 35 years.
- Replacement jets are now projected for delivery in mid-2028, significantly delayed from 2022.
President Donald Trump’s journey to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, faced an unexpected setback on Tuesday evening when the aircraft designated as Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland due to a “minor electrical issue.” The unscheduled turnaround, which occurred over the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern coast of Long Island, New York, prompted the President to switch to a backup plane to continue his high-profile diplomatic and economic mission, highlighting ongoing concerns about the aging presidential fleet and persistent delays in its modernization.
Unscheduled Return and Swift Departure
The incident unfolded approximately an hour into the flight, as the Boeing 747, carrying President Trump and his delegation, made an abrupt turn back towards the U.S. mainland. The White House confirmed the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” following the detection of a minor electrical fault. Open-source flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange visually depicted the aircraft’s unexpected trajectory reversal.
Upon its safe landing at Joint Base Andrews just after 11 p.m. ET, a flurry of activity ensued. Staffers swiftly transferred luggage, while crew members moved boxes of fruit, wrapped sandwiches, and beverages between the two presidential jets. Within roughly an hour of the original aircraft’s touchdown, President Trump was “wheels up” again, this time aboard a different plane serving as Air Force One, resuming his transatlantic flight to Davos, as reported by CNN.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking to reporters onboard the original flight, reportedly quipped that the controversial Qatari jet, currently undergoing modifications, was sounding like a “much better” option at that moment, according to The Guardian. The rapid transition underscored the meticulous protocols in place for presidential travel, ensuring minimal disruption despite unforeseen technical difficulties.
Aging Fleet and Persistent Delays
The incident brings renewed focus to the venerable age of the current Air Force One fleet. The two Boeing 747 jets that primarily serve as the presidential aircraft have been in continuous service for over 35 years, or nearly four decades, as noted by The Guardian. These highly customized aircraft are equipped with extensive survivability capabilities, including radiation shielding, antimissile technology, and advanced communication systems, allowing the President to maintain command from anywhere in the world.
Efforts to replace these aging jets have been plagued by significant delays and cost overruns. The next generation of presidential jets, initially slated for delivery in 2022, is now not expected to enter service until mid-2028. This protracted timeline has reportedly frustrated President Trump and incurred billions in costs for Boeing. In December, the U.S. Air Force awarded a $15.5 million modification to its existing contract with Boeing, pushing the total value of the contract to over $4.3 billion for the new VC-25B aircraft.
In a move to augment its future presidential airlift capabilities, the Air Force also announced plans last month to acquire two additional Boeing jets from the German carrier Lufthansa, with delivery expected this year. Furthermore, a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet, gifted to President Trump by Qatar’s ruling family in 2025, is currently undergoing extensive modifications to meet stringent U.S. security standards for potential use as Air Force One. This acquisition has sparked considerable legal, ethical, and security concerns, despite the President’s assertion that the jet could be ready for use soon.
A Pattern of Technical Glitches
While technical issues on Air Force One are considered exceedingly rare due to rigorous maintenance schedules, this is not the first time President Trump has faced such an inconvenience. Just months prior, during a September visit to the United Kingdom, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had to transfer to a support helicopter after their primary helicopter experienced a hydraulic issue and was forced to land at a local airfield, as announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at the time.
The issue with Air Force One also follows a series of mechanical problems experienced by other high-ranking U.S. officials’ military transport. In February 2025, a military plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Germany had to return to Washington due to a mechanical problem. Later, in October, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s military plane made an emergency landing in the United Kingdom after a crack appeared in its windshield, as detailed by ABC7 News and The Guardian. These incidents, though varied in nature, underscore the challenges of maintaining a complex fleet of government aircraft.
Historically, such incidents are uncommon. One notable prior occurrence was in 2006 when a mechanical issue grounded Air Force One in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, forcing President George W. Bush to use a backup plane for his departure.
Davos Agenda and Geopolitical Context
Despite the delay, President Trump’s delegation, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, is expected to proceed with its agenda at the World Economic Forum. The Davos meeting itself is overshadowed by significant geopolitical tensions, particularly President Trump’s ongoing threats of tariffs on European countries related to his determination to acquire Greenland.
Before departing, President Trump told reporters, “Let’s put it this way: it’s going to be a very interesting Davos.” Earlier, during a press briefing marking his first anniversary in office, he had been pressed on how far he would go to acquire Greenland, responding enigmatically, “You’ll find out.” The unscheduled turnaround of Air Force One, while a logistical hiccup, adds a layer of unexpected drama to a trip already anticipated to be fraught with high-stakes discussions and potential confrontations on the global economic stage.
The repeated technical issues affecting the presidential fleet and other high-level U.S. government aircraft, despite their rarity for Air Force One specifically, underscore the critical importance of accelerating the modernization program. The delays in delivering new, more reliable presidential jets not only pose potential logistical challenges but also implicitly raise questions about the resilience of core U.S. government operational capabilities in an increasingly complex global environment.