President Donald Trump’s trip to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum was briefly interrupted when Air Force One was forced to turn back over the Atlantic due to a technical issue.
Air Force One Makes U-Turn Over Atlantic After Technical Issue
Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump on his way to deliver a keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was forced to turn around mid-flight Tuesday evening and return to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland due to a minor electrical problem identified shortly after takeoff.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the decision to turn around was made out of caution after a minor electrical problem was detected. She emphasized that there was no immediate danger to the president or those traveling with him, but standard safety protocols required the aircraft to return rather than continue across the ocean.
Following the return to Maryland, President Trump and his delegation boarded a different government aircraft to resume their journey. While the change in aircraft caused some delay, the president’s schedule was adjusted and his overseas engagements at the World Economic Forum are expected to proceed.
Incidents like this are rare but not unprecedented. The current Air Force One aircraft are Boeing VC-25As based on the 747-200 platform, first introduced into service in the early 1990s. While they are extensively maintained and upgraded, they are approaching four decades of service. Trump has repeatedly complained that these aircraft are old and unreliable.
After returning to Andrews, the president and his delegation, including senior officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continued their journey to Davos aboard an Air Force C-32, a Boeing 757 variant more typically used for domestic travel and smaller international trips. Trump is still expected to speak at the international forum in Switzerland later today.
Leavitt used the moment to underscore the administration’s frustration with the prolonged timeline for replacing the aircraft. She noted that a newer Boeing 747-8 previously owned by the Qatari government and now slated for conversion into a future Air Force One would offer a more modern and reliable platform than the aging jets currently in use.
I have previously covered the controversy and uncertainty surrounding the replacement Air Force One aircraft, including President Trump’s interest in accelerating the use of the former Qatari 747 while Boeing continues to face delays with its purpose built replacements.
Meanwhile, Boeing is developing new presidential aircraft based on the 747-8 platform, a process that has faced delays and billions in cost overruns. Those aircraft are not expected to be delivered before 2029.
> Read More:
- “I’m Not Happy With Boeing!” Trump Goes Plane Shopping Due To Air Force One Delays
- Trump Bets On Qatari 747-8 For Air Force One
Karma is a b*tch
Glad everyone’s alright…
Has anyone suggested to Criminal Trump that he should ditch his Boeing and approach Airbus to build an A380 which might be big enough to fit his ego?
I’m frankly surprised that he has not pivoted to an A380 and I bet he can get a good deal on one too.
Hopefully Starmer and Macron will calm the dotard down in CH and he can cool down the Greenland rhetoric and realize the U.S. already has a near-unfettered right to open as many bases on Greenland as possible.
Well I see Criminal Trump has climbed down, apparently in no small part because of pressure from the US Military who were never going to invade another NATO country. Hopefully the toddler will learn a lesson but I’m not holding my breath.
Safety first. POTUS will want to make a faster conversion to the billion retrofit on the Qatari flying brothel.
Would the Qatari’s find the brothel to be haram, or do they make an exception for mutual defense pact?
POTUS style is cheesy brothel.
It would have been a real shame if he didn’t make it to Davos in time to spew nonsense and make us all look stupid.
Came here to see comment’s subtlety dreaming of a crash and the death of hundreds of people with families, including not political figures. And I wasn’t disappointed unfortunately.
Welcome to the non violent “resistance” that the hatred and jealousy of success has created. Just strange seeing it on what should be a site filed with successful individuals discussing their love of air travel. But it’s just become another Reddit at this point with daily posts and comment section filled with politics.
Gotta love the snowflakes who read something that isn’t there.
Remember that on October 15, 2025, a USAF C-32A carrying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth back from the meeting of NATO Defense Chiefs in Brussels, Belgium, was forced to descend to under 10,000 feet and divert to RAF Mildenhall in England earlier due to a cracked windscreen, which reportedly caused concerns about pressurization prior to crossing the Atlantic. It is the second time an Air Force C-32 carrying a high-ranking cabinet official has had to divert due to a cracked windshield. In February 2025, a jet carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio ran into a similar problem after taking off from Joint Base Andrews as the chief diplomat was flying to a security conference in Europe.
I see they are not missing you at Business Traveller:
https://www.businesstraveller.com/forums/topic/welcome-to-the-new-business-traveller-website/page/4/#post-1745807
They sum up your posting ability so well.
Wonder why he didn’t switch to the other VC-25A. I believe the norm is both would have been taken.
“President Donald Trump on his way to deliver a keynote address” We know that key note is not sharp.
Reportedly, the other VC-25A (747-200) is undergoing maintenance in Texas for a “structural issue.”
This is what ticks me off about news coverage today (at least the things I read online). If I were a reporter/editor, I wouldn’t have let an article out without dealing with the “where is the other 747” question.