US President Donald Trump was forced to return to the United States on Wednesday after a technical issue was detected on board Air Force One while he was en route to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
The White House said the aircraft experienced a minor electrical fault shortly after takeoff for Switzerland. According to the Associated Press, the plane landed safely at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC. An AP reporter travelling on the flight said the lights in the press cabin briefly went out soon after departure, though no immediate explanation was given.
Around 30 minutes into the journey, journalists were informed that the aircraft would turn back. Trump is expected to continue his trip to Davos on the second Air Force One aircraft, as two planes are maintained for presidential travel.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the age of the Air Force One fleet. The two Boeing aircraft currently in service have been flying for more than four decades. Although Boeing is developing replacements, the programme has faced repeated delays.
In 2025, Qatar's ruling family gifted Trump a Boeing 747-8 luxury jet, valued at about $400 million, for potential inclusion in the Air Force One fleet. The gift sparked controversy, with critics calling it inappropriate. The aircraft has been undergoing security modifications since July last year, a process that is still ongoing.
Following the diversion, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reportedly joked that the Qatari jet sounded "much better" than the aircraft that experienced the fault.
Air Force One planes are extensively modified to ensure the President's safety, featuring advanced communication systems, anti-missile defences, radiation shielding, and the capability for the President to remain in constant contact with military commanders and issue orders from anywhere in the world.
