Trump Uses Older Air Force One Amid Iran Tensions, Raising Security Questions

President Donald Trump departed from the NATO summit in Ankara aboard his older Air Force One aircraft rather than the newer plane gifted by Qatar, following a special security recommendation amid rising tensions with Iran, according to the New York Times. Sources familiar with the new plane’s capabilities told the Times that it lacks some of the defensive features of the older aircraft. The decision to switch planes before takeoff from Turkey was a precaution advised by the secret service, not due to a specific threat.

Trump denied that security concerns motivated the change, stating on social media that he chose the older plane to allow the new one to take off earlier and stop at U.S. military bases to showcase it to troops. He also hinted the move might relate to threats against him. When boarding the older plane, Trump did so unusually quickly, before accompanying journalists could observe or photograph him, and passengers were asked to close window shades before takeoff.

The older Air Force One is equipped with systems designed to blind incoming surface-to-air missiles and deploy metal strips to mislead them. It remains unclear how many of these defensive measures have been installed on the newer Qatari-donated plane, which Trump pushed to deploy quickly. This has intensified concerns among lawmakers and officials about whether the accelerated timeline allowed for sufficient security upgrades.

White House communications director Stephen Cheung stated that the new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft with high-level security protocols ensuring the president’s safety. However, anonymous sources briefed on the new plane’s capabilities indicated it does not have all the features of the older model. Industry and Pentagon officials estimate that fully upgrading the new plane could cost up to $1 billion and take two years, though Air Force commander Troy Minck testified before Congress that the cost would likely be under $400 million. Much of the refurbishment work has taken place at a secretive Texas facility known for advanced technology projects.

After landing at RAF Mildenhall in the UK late at night, Trump transferred to the new plane to return to Washington. The episode highlights ongoing questions about the readiness and security of the new presidential aircraft amid heightened threats from adversaries like Iran.