What Happened
Luxury 747 Retrofit Drives Up Costs and Risks
President Trump’s impatience with aging presidential jets led to a luxury 747 from Qatar being retrofitted for use as Air Force One, but at a steep cost and with notable security compromises. The rush to complete the retrofit in time for the nation’s 250th birthday drove up expenses and raised concerns about the aircraft’s safety features. The New York Times reports that the ‘bridge’ aircraft lacks several key security features, including a lower-level exit and visible high-end antimissile systems. This was first reported by Newser.