Washington: Ditching the new Qatari-gifted jet, President Donald Trump boarded an old Air Force One plane for returning home from a NATO summit in Turkey. This had turned out to be a surprise at a time when the US and Iran again started launching strikes.
But what was the reason for this flipping? Well, Trump offered little clarity on that. Instead, he said that he was doing so “for old time’s sake.” He also indicated that both the aircraft would make a previously unscheduled stop on the way back at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, which is a base used by the US troops, reported AP.
The change in travel plan has raised fresh security questions. The US had spent $400 million to retrofit the new aircraft. According to the reports, there’s a difference between the aircraft. The Qatari-gifted jet is not equipped with some of the same missile detection and countermeasure systems as the older jets have.
Trump boarded the new jet at Mildenhall, the report claims. Immediately thereafter, it took off for Joi
nt Base Andrews.
“We just landed and met up with our new Air Force One, which was sent earlier to RAF Mildenhall, so we could show the wonderful Servicemembers, as per the entire Base’s request,” the Republican president said on social media.
During the journey, Trump, however, denied to the reporters accompanying him that security concerns involving Iran were a factor in flying two planes home. Iran and Turkey share a border.
This change also comes less than a day after the US military conducted a series of large strikes in Iran in retaliation for its attacks on merchant shipping. On Wednesday, there were fresh strikes.
According to the AP report, the plane’s transponder was turned off for some time.
“The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff,” spokesman Steven Cheung said, reported AP.
“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal — including distraction and misdirection — to address those threats,” he added.
The old plane that Trump boarded to depart from Turkey had carried presidents for several decades.
The luxurious aircraft gifted by Qatar, that was modified to carry Trump, departed earlier Wednesday from Turkey. It landed at RAF Mildenhall on Wednesday afternoon.
Iran has several missiles and drones in its inventory with enough range to make the roughly 800-mile flight from its own borders to Turkey, reported AP. Earlier, Trump’s first journey aboard the new aircraft was to North Dakota.