Air Force One Turns Back After Minor Electrical Issue on Trump’s Trip to Davos
Air Force One carrying President Donald Trump to the World Economic Forum in Davos was forced to turn back to Maryland late Tuesday after experiencing what the White House described as a “minor electrical issue.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the issue was identified shortly after takeoff from Joint Base Andrews. The flight crew decided to return to the base “out of an abundance of caution.” The aircraft landed safely at approximately 11:07 p.m. Eastern Time.
Reporters traveling with the president said the lights in the press cabin briefly went out after takeoff, though officials did not immediately elaborate on the cause.
Trump resumed his journey about an hour later aboard a different aircraft, an Air Force C-32 — a modified Boeing 757 typically used for presidential travel to smaller airports, according to the Associated Press. The second plane departed around midnight.
The delay could affect the timing of Trump’s planned appearance at the World Economic Forum, where he was scheduled to speak Wednesday morning shortly after arrival.
Ahead of the trip, Trump struck a lighthearted tone when asked about the journey. “This will be an interesting trip,” he told reporters. “I have no idea what is going to happen. But you are well represented.”
The incident comes amid ongoing delays in replacing the aging Air Force One fleet. The two Boeing 747 aircraft currently in service have been operating since 1990, with replacement planes now expected to enter service later this decade.
