Washington: US president Donald Trump’s flight to the World Economic Forum in Davos was forced to return to the United States on Tuesday night after Air Force One experienced what officials termed, a “minor electrical issue” shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft, which had departed from the Joint Base Andrews near Washington, made a U-turn and landed safely back at the base, prompting the president to board a different aircraft to continue the journey.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the crew aboard Air Force One identified a “minor electrical issue” soon after departure and, acting out of caution, decided to return to Andrews rather than continue across the Atlantic. No emergency was declared during the flight, and there were no reports of injuries or serious risk to the president, staff or media traveling with him. Reporters on board said lights in the press cabin briefly went out following takeoff. No detailed technical explanation was immediately provided.
President Trump is still expected to attend the Davos meeting, where he is scheduled to deliver a keynote address and hold discussions with several world leaders amid rising global economic and diplomatic tensions. The White House said the incident would result only in a brief delay, with the president continuing his trip on an alternate aircraft once systems checks on the original plane were completed.
