President Trump's Air Force One flight was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Joint Base Andrews after a minor electrical issue was identified shortly after takeoff. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the crew opted to return 'out of an abundance of caution' due to some cabin lights temporarily going out during departure.
The US Air Force has accepted a donated 747 jetliner from Qatar to serve as an interim Air Force One, amid delays for Boeing-modified jets. The aircraft was accepted in May and modifications began in September.
The US Air Force has admitted that President Trump's Air Force One delivery will be delayed by another year, with the first aircraft now expected to arrive in mid-2028. Despite previous delays, Boeing aims to deliver the new aircraft in 2027.
The US Air Force expects to receive its first modernized Air Force One aircraft in mid-2028, roughly two-and-a-half years later than initially forecast. The program's revised timeline comes after Boeing secured a deal personally mediated by President Trump in 2018 and faced numerous challenges, including COVID-19 disruptions and workforce woes.