United States President, Donald Trump, continued his journey to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in the early hours of Wednesday after a technical fault forced Air Force One to turn back shortly after takeoff.
Trump and members of his delegation switched aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, near Washington, and departed again just after midnight (0500 GMT), roughly two and a half hours after their initial departure.
The White House said the decision to return was taken “out of an abundance of caution” following what officials described as a “minor electrical issue” onboard the presidential jet. Reporters travelling with the president noted that the cabin lights briefly went out soon after takeoff.
Trump is heading to Davos to attend the annual World Economic Forum, where he is expected to clash with European leaders over his controversial push to take control of Greenland.
Air Force One, with its distinctive blue-and-white design, remains one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world and a powerful symbol of the US presidency.
However, Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the current fleet — two heavily modified Boeing 747-200B aircraft that have been in service since 1990, during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.
Last year, Trump revealed that his administration was “looking at alternatives” to Boeing after delays plagued the delivery of two new 747-8 replacement jets.
In May, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted a Boeing 747 offered by the Gulf state of Qatar for Trump’s use as Air Force One.
The aircraft, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, has sparked intense constitutional and ethical debate, alongside serious security concerns over the use of a presidential plane donated by a foreign government.
