New York, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump was reportedly moved from Air Force One to a smaller military aircraft through a catering vehicle during his return from Turkey last month after security officials received what were described as credible threats against the presidential plane, according to reports.
Trump had publicly boarded Air Force One in Ankara following the NATO summit. However, The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that he and a small group of senior aides subsequently entered a catering truck positioned alongside the aircraft before being transferred to a car and taken to a C-32A military jet.
Trump and the aides then flew to RAF Mildenhall in Britain, where he boarded the Qatar-donated aircraft for the onward journey to the United States. Other officials and journalists remained aboard the older Air Force One and travelled separately to Britain before joining Trump for the final leg.
Journalists aboard the presidential aircraft said they had been instructed to keep the windows closed during the flight.
The White House did not directly confirm the reported operation. However, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung indicated that security concerns had prompted special measures.
“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,” Cheung said.
The reported security concerns centred partly on the Qatar-donated aircraft, which Trump had showcased for its luxurious interiors. Security officials reportedly believed that temporary modifications made to the aircraft had not equipped it with all the protective capabilities of the older Air Force One planes, including anti-missile systems and protection against electromagnetic surges.
Trump had earlier said the Qatar aircraft was sent to Britain because US military personnel at Mildenhall wanted to inspect it. Reports, however, said intercepted threats prompted the decision to move him first to an older Air Force One and subsequently to the C-32A.
The C-32A, based on the Boeing 757, lacks the luxury features associated with Trump’s preferred presidential aircraft.
The episode also followed controversy over reports concerning security shortcomings in the Qatar-donated aircraft. After The New York Times reported on the issue citing officials, the US Department of Justice issued subpoenas seeking information from journalists and relatives of one reporter as part of an effort to identify alleged national security leakers. The subpoenas were later withdrawn following criticism.
Trump subsequently said the Qatar aircraft had been taken out of service to be further upgraded.
The older Air Force One aircraft and the Qatar-donated plane intended for future presidential use are both variants of the Boeing 747.
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