Air Force One carrying Trump to Davos turns around after "minor electrical issue," Leavitt says
A "minor electrical issue" forced Air Force One to turn around and return to Maryland less than an hour after takeoff Tuesday night as it was headed for Davos, Switzerland, with President Trump aboard, White House officials said. The president then departed for Switzerland aboard a new plane about one hour later.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters aboard the plane that, after takeoff from Joint Base Andrews, the crew identified a "minor electrical issue," and, out of an abundance of caution, chose to turn around and return to the base.
Air Force One landed back at the base at 11:07 p.m. Eastern Time.
Reporters had said that the lights in the press cabin briefly went out after takeoff, but no explanation was offered.
The president then boarded a new aircraft, which took off at around midnight. The second aircraft is an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used by the president for domestic trips to smaller airports, according to the Associated Press.
Mr. Trump is headed to Davos for the World Economic Forum. He was scheduled to address the forum at about 8:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, shortly after landing, but that could be delayed.
"This will be an interesting trip," Mr. Trump told reporters on the White House lawn shortly before departing for Joint Base Andrews. "I have no idea what is going to happen. But you are well represented."
There are currently two modified Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One. Both have been in service since 1990. They were set to be replaced in 2024 with modified Boeing 747s, but the completion of the first replacement plane was delayed until 2027, and the second delayed to 2028, according to the U.S. Air Force.
Last summer, Mr. Trump confirmed that the Qatari royal family had donated a Boeing 747-8 jumbo aircraft valued at $400 million to the president to eventually be used as Air Force One. However, renovating the plane could cost several hundred million dollars before it could be ready for use, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said last June.
