President Donald Trump was forced to switch from his new Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 to the older Air Force One after his visit to Turkey, after the Secret Service determined the new aircraft lacks critical defense systems including electronic warfare and heat-seeking missile countermeasures, according to reports. The White House denied safety concerns, while security officials warned of risks given proximity to Turkey and Iran.
New reports on Friday reveal that the Secret Service's decision to bar President Donald Trump from using the Qatari-donated aircraft on his return from Turkey was specifically due to the absence of electronic warfare systems and heat-seeking missile countermeasures on the new plane. The development builds on a story that unfolded over the previous 48 hours.
The initial reports came Wednesday evening when Trump stated he might be assassinated and called himself Iran's 'number one' target. By 19:30 Jerusalem, The Zioneer had reported that Trump would not fly on the Qatari jet due to security concerns. The New York Times later reported that the Secret Service recommended the switch amid US-Iran tensions, a detail confirmed by Israeli journalist Ariel Kahana, who cited an 'unreliable excuse' from Trump. The thread culminated in reports that Trump departed Ankara on the older Air Force One and switched to the Qatari aircraft at Mildenhall airbase in Britain.
The Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8, valued at $400 million, was inaugurated as an interim Air Force One on July 1, as The Zioneer reported. The aircraft has been a subject of security readiness debates, particularly given the proximity to Turkey and Iran during the NATO summit. The White House has denied safety concerns, but former Air Force officials noted that full security adaptation typically takes over a year.
The exact status of the missing systems and whether a formal investigation will be launched remain unclear.
9 developments
- StrongTrump displays Qatar-gifted interim Air Force One in New York
- DevelopingTrump's interim Air Force One enters operational readiness
- StrongTrump inaugurates Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 as official aircraft: 'Couldn't get that from anyone else'
- StrongErdogan Leverages Trump Ties as Turkey Examines S-400 Transfer or Deactivation for F-35 Return
Source and signal
- Internal intake