US President Donald Trump was reportedly moved from **Air Force One to a military aircraft in secret while departing a NATO summit in Turkey last month, following intelligence about a possible Iranian missile threat targeting his plane.
According to reports by The Washington Post and CBS News, the operation was designed to conceal the president’s movements and reduce the risk of an attack.
Trump was initially seen boarding the old Air Force One at Ankara airport in full view of television cameras. However, officials reportedly transferred him to a C-32A military aircraft, a modified Boeing 757 used for senior government travel, using a catering truck positioned on the opposite side of the aircraft.
The unusual transfer was reportedly carried out without the knowledge of journalists and some White House staff members, who had boarded Air Force One and were instructed to keep their window shades closed.
Intelligence reportedly warned of Iranian threat
US officials told CBS News that intelligence agencies had detected a **credible threat that Iran could target the president’s aircraft with a missile.
The White House has not publicly confirmed the reported aircraft switch.
Trump had earlier told reporters during the NATO summit that he believed he was Iran’s “number one target, and later acknowledged that threats against him remained constant.
“Because you’re probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags we have to deal with,” Trump reportedly said when asked why reporters had been instructed to close their window shades.
Secret transfer and UK stopover
According to the reports, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the military aircraft separately to avoid drawing attention to the operation.
Trump reportedly flew on the C-32A to the United Kingdom, where he later rejoined the old Air Force One before landing at RAF Mildenhall. He subsequently transferred to the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8, which has been undergoing modifications for presidential use, for the flight back to Washington.
The exact circumstances of his transfer back to Air Force One in the UK remain unclear.
Security concerns over new presidential aircraft
The reported operation has renewed attention on security arrangements surrounding the **Qatari-donated presidential aircraft, which has reportedly undergone extensive retrofitting.
US officials have previously expressed concerns about the aircraft’s defensive capabilities, and reports indicate that the Secret Service had recommended that Trump change planes after departing the NATO summit.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung did not directly confirm or deny the reported operation but said the aircraft was equipped with advanced security measures.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CBS News that the aircraft was safe for presidential travel and would receive additional security upgrades later this year.
The reported aircraft switch came amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following the collapse of diplomatic negotiations and renewed US military strikes against Iranian targets.
