President Trump was secretly moved from Air Force One to a different aircraft during a stop in Turkey last month after U.S. intelligence detected a credible threat from Iran, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter.
The switch occurred shortly before takeoff from Ankara, where Trump had attended the NATO summit. The president was escorted off the presidential jet with the help of an airport catering truck, a ruse designed to mask his movement as intelligence indicated a possible missile attack on the plane he was originally scheduled to fly.
The Washington Post first reported the secret plane switch, and CBS News later confirmed the details with its own sources. The threat was linked to Iran and its allied proxies, according to the official.
Video footage from the airport showed Trump walking up the steps of the older Air Force One and disappearing inside, while a catering truck was visible on the opposite side. Minutes later, the truck pulled away and drove to another U.S. government aircraft, identified by the Post as an Air Force C-32A.
Trump then flew from Ankara to a refueling stop in the United Kingdom on the separate plane, while journalists and some staff members traveled on Air Force One, believing the president was aboard. Reporters were told to keep window shades in the press cabin closed during the flight. When asked why, Trump later said they were “probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with.”
At the time, Trump had announced he would leave Ankara in the older Air Force One rather than the newer jet, which was donated by Qatar and had been in service since June. He said the switch was “for old time’s sake,” but CBS News reported that the Secret Service had advised the older plane for security reasons.
U.S. intelligence had detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the president’s plane as it departed Turkish airspace, according to the official. Trump was aware of the heightened risks, having called himself Iran’s “number one target” during the NATO summit.
The secret maneuver was not disclosed publicly at the time. The Trump administration has never acknowledged that the press and some staff were flying on a decoy aircraft.
Several administration officials expressed frustration Monday night that classified tactics and procedures had been leaked, potentially compromising future protective operations for U.S. presidents.
The episode has also raised questions about the security features of the new Air Force One. Last month, Trump told reporters that the new jet had been sent off to be “maxed out” with additional upgrades after questions arose about its security protocols.
White House communications director Steven Cheung did not directly address the plane switch in Turkey, but said in a statement: “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff. As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats.”
The Air Force has also defended the new aircraft, calling it “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.”
In the United Kingdom, Trump switched to the newer Air Force One for the transatlantic flight back to Washington, where he spoke with reporters. The decision to use the older plane for the initial leg, and the covert transfer, underscore the lengths the Secret Service and military went to protect the president amid a specific and credible threat.
