President Trump changed planes before departing Turkey earlier this month following intelligence indicating a threat from Iranian proxy forces, multiple news organizations reported. The incident occurred while Trump was attending a NATO summit in Ankara. He had initially arrived in the country aboard a newly acquired Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8, which Trump has acknowledged lacks the advanced defensive systems found on the older Air Force One.
According to unnamed US officials cited by the New York Times and CBS News, the Secret Service recommended the aircraft switch after detecting the threat. CBS News sources indicated the intelligence involved a plan to fire a missile at the president’s aircraft. Officials determined the threat was directed at Trump himself rather than specifically targeting the new Boeing 747-8. Following the recommendation, Trump departed on the older Air Force One instead of the newer jet.
At the time of the switch, Trump did not provide a detailed security-related explanation, stating he would use the legacy aircraft “for old time’s sake.” Both aircraft made an unscheduled stop at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, a US military base, before returning to the United States. The White House was contacted for comment regarding the incident.
The reported threat highlights ongoing security concerns surrounding the donated aircraft, which Trump has prioritized for rapid deployment. Previously, Trump’s Justice Department had subpoenaed New York Times reporters over their coverage of security risks associated with the Qatari-gifted plane replacement, though those efforts have since been dropped. Trump has previously discussed threats from Iran against his life and stated he maintains standing military orders regarding potential Iranian action.
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