Air Force One, the aircraft used by the US president, during an official flight.
Credit : Soos Jozsef, Shutterstock
Donald Trump’s trip to Davos got off to an awkward start after Air Force One was forced to turn back shortly after take-off due to a technical issue on board.
The US president was heading to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum when the crew detected what officials later described as a minor electrical fault. As a precaution, the aircraft returned to the United States, where Trump quickly switched planes before continuing his journey.
Plane returns to base as safety measure
The incident happened late on Sunday night. According to the White House, the flight crew identified the issue while the aircraft was already airborne and made the decision to return to Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington.
White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins confirmed on social media that the president had boarded a different aircraft shortly after midnight and was once again on his way to Davos.
Officials were keen to stress that the problem was not serious and that there was no immediate danger. Still, any technical issue involving Air Force One is treated with extreme caution, and turning back is standard procedure.
Trump presses on to Davos
Despite the brief disruption, Trump showed no sign of slowing down. Earlier in the evening, he posted on Truth Social that the United States would be “well represented” at Davos, where he is due to hold talks with several world leaders.
Among those expected to meet the president is NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with discussions likely to touch on growing tensions between Washington and parts of Europe. Greenland is expected to feature prominently, following Trump’s renewed interest in the territory and the diplomatic fallout involving Denmark and other European countries.
The Davos summit comes at a sensitive time for transatlantic relations, with defence spending, trade and geopolitical influence all firmly in the spotlight.
A rare hiccup for a famously secure aircraft
Air Force One is considered one of the most secure and well-maintained aircraft in the world, equipped with multiple backup systems. Even so, minor technical faults can and do happen – and when they do, the response is immediate.
Returning to base and switching aircraft is not unusual in such cases, especially when electrical systems are involved. The White House played down the incident, insisting Trump’s schedule remained unchanged.
By the early hours of Monday morning, the president was back in the air, heading for Switzerland, with his Davos agenda firmly back on track.
For now, the brief scare appears to be nothing more than a minor delay – though it offered a reminder that even presidential travel doesn’t always go entirely to plan.
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