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Reuters

US President Donald Trump unexpectedly left Turkey on Wednesday aboard an older Air Force One rather than the newly renovated Qatari-donated jet that brought him there, but later boarded the new plane in Britain for the flight to Washington.
The trip to Turkey for the Nato summit, the first international travel for the new ‌plane, took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, a country that borders Turkey.
The unexpected plane switch followed months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggled to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.
Critics have questioned the cost, security and pace of the retrofit.
Trump said on Truth Social that he would use an older baby blue Air Force One plane “for old time’s sake” to fly from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in Britain while the new plane stopped at the same base so US service members stationed there could tour the aircraft.
After he greeted service members stationed there, Trump then boarded the new jet, and it promptly took off for Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

The new plane, with red, white, dark blue and gold livery chosen by ‌Trump, is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar last year and refitted by defence contractor L3Harris Technologies.
Trump, asked in Ankara if a threat of assassination prompted his decision to change planes for his departure from Turkey, did not answer directly but acknowledged ‌the potential threat.
“I’m number one on the kill list for Iran,” he told reporters at a news conference as the Nato summit concluded. “I don’t ⁠know. I can’t tell you that ⁠but I don’t really care.”
The upgrades to the jet from Qatar were completed so quickly that some experts expressed concern the plane may not be as secure as the existing Air Force One aircraft.
Trump had said in Turkey the new Air Force One would travel to two or three big military bases in Europe before returning to the United States “so the soldiers can see it because ‌it’s truly magnificent”. ‌But it appeared the plane’s only stop was at the British base.
Trump wrote late on Wednesday on social media that he had landed at RAF Mildenhall “and met up ‌with our new Air Force One”.

Service members at the base “were very excited, picture enclosed. It was on our way back to the States from Turkey, with virtually no deviation of ⁠flight path,” he said.
The Qatari jet’s acceptance had drawn scrutiny. Retrofitting the luxury plane required security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent eavesdropping and missile-defence capabilities, experts have said.
Democratic lawmakers estimated ⁠the conversion cost more than US$1 billion and raised concerns about its security.
A second aircraft that can operate as Air Force One is always on standby during presidential trips.
The Air Force’s fast-track effort to ready the jet skipped some planned modifications for the next-generation presidential aircraft in order to deliver an ‌interim version sooner.
Officials have said the plane ‌still meets presidential standards.

Boeing is working to deliver two purpose-built 747-8s under a US$3.9 billion fixed-price contract signed in 2018.
That programme is now four years behind schedule, with delivery not expected until mid-2028, meaning a new, US-built plane may not be ready before Trump’s term ends in January 2029.
Costs on the Boeing programme have grown to more than US$5 billion, with the company booking billions of dollars in charges tied to the project.
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Trump switches back to old Air Force One, raising questions about Qatari jet

Air Force One after landing at Etimesgut Air Base near Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

US President Donald Trump in front of Air Force One after disembarking from the older presidential aircraft at RAF Mildenhall in Britain. Photo: AFP

Mourners in Tehran write messages on a wall, including one in English that reads ‘We will kill Trump’, during the funeral ceremonies for slain Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: AP

US President Donald Trump disembarks from the old Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall in Britain. Photo: AFP

Trump takes first flight on new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding the new Air Force One. Photo: AP

Trump unveils new Air Force One, as he plans trips to China and Turkey

US President Donald Trump exits the newly designated Air Force One presidential aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Friday. Photo: AP

The VC-25B Bridge aircraft sits at Joint Base Andrews on Friday. Photo: US Air Force via Reuters

Trump aides post farewells to Air Force One jet before debut of Qatar-gifted 747

Air Force One landing at Geneva Airport ahead of the G7 summit on Monday. Photo: AP

US President Donald Trump boarding Air Force One. Photo: Reuters

A model of the jet in its new colour scheme in the Oval Office. Photo: GPO via dpa

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Asked if an assassination threat prompted the move, the US president did not answer directly but said: ‘I’m No 1 on the kill list for Iran’


Asked if an assassination threat prompted the move, the US president did not answer directly but said: ‘I’m No 1 on the kill list for Iran’.


Trump switches back to old Air Force One, raising questions about Qatari jet

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Asked if an assassination threat prompted the move, the US president did not answer directly but said: ‘I’m No 1 on the kill list for Iran’

Asked if an assassination threat prompted the move, the US president did not answer directly but said: ‘I’m No 1 on the kill list for Iran’