President Trump’s Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday evening about an hour after departing for Switzerland, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The crew identified a minor electrical issue after takeoff and decided to turn around out of an abundance of caution. Trump subsequently boarded an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used for domestic travel, and continued to Davos for the World Economic Forum shortly after midnight.
The incident underscores the aging condition of the current Air Force One fleet. The two VC-25 aircraft in use have been flying for nearly four decades, and Boeing’s program to develop replacements has faced repeated delays.
A reporter aboard Air Force One said the lights in the press cabin went out briefly after takeoff. About 30 minutes into the flight, the crew informed reporters the plane would return to Washington.
The Presidential Fleet
The VC-25 aircraft are heavily modified with advanced survivability capabilities, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They carry sophisticated communications systems that allow the president to maintain contact with military commanders and issue orders from anywhere in the world.
Replacement Program Faces Delays
Boeing is developing replacement aircraft for the presidential fleet, but the program has faced multiple delays. Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added to the Air Force One fleet. That aircraft is currently undergoing retrofitting to meet security and operational requirements.
A Pattern of Mechanical Troubles
This electrical issue adds to a pattern of mechanical problems affecting U.S. military aircraft. In February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s plane returned to Washington from Germany due to a mechanical issue. In October, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s military transport made an emergency landing in the United Kingdom after a crack was discovered in the windshield.