Trump’s Davos trip delayed as plane makes emergency return to US

United States President Donald Trump’s plane was forced to return to an air base on Tuesday night due to a “minor electrical issue” shortly after departing for Switzerland.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews out of an abundance of caution, adding that it landed shortly after 11:00 pm (0400 GMT).

Journalists travelling with Trump reported that lights in the cabin went out briefly after takeoff.

Trump and his entourage will switch to another plane and continue the trip to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where the president was expected to face off with European leaders over his bid to seize Greenland.

With its classic blue and white livery, Air Force One is arguably the world’s most iconic plane and an instantly recognisable symbol of the US presidency.

Trump has long been unhappy with the current Air Force One jets – two highly customised Boeing 747-200B series aircraft that entered service in 1990 under president George H.W. Bush.

Last year, Trump said his administration was “looking at alternatives” to Boeing following delays in the delivery of two new 747-8 aircraft.

In May, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accepted a Boeing 747 that the Gulf emirate of Qatar offered to Trump for use as Air Force One.

The plane – worth hundreds of millions of dollars – has raised huge constitutional and ethical questions, as well as security concerns about using an aircraft donated by a foreign power for use as the ultra-sensitive presidential plane.

The Star