Amid Iranian Threat, Trump Secretly Switched From Air Force One To Smaller Plane After Turkey Exit
News world Trump Secretly Switched From Air Force One To Smaller Plane After Turkey Exit Amid Iranian Threat Trump Secretly Switched From Air Force One
News world Trump Secretly Switched From Air Force One To Smaller Plane After Turkey Exit Amid Iranian Threat Trump Secretly Switched From Air Force One To Smaller Plane After Turkey Exit Amid Iranian Threat Published By, Last Updated: August 11, 2026, 07:00 IST Donald Trump secretly flew from Turkey aboard a US Air Force C-32A amid an Iranian threat, a report has claimed. US President Donald Trump secretly flew from Turkey aboard a smaller C-32A military aircraft amid an Iranian threat (Photo: AFP) US President Donald Trump secretly flew out of Turkey last month aboard a smaller US military aircraft after an Iranian threat prompted a covert change in his travel arrangements, The Washington Post reported. Trump had travelled to Ankara for the NATO summit aboard a newly renovated Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar. However, instead of departing Turkey on that aircraft or the older Air Force One, as publicly indicated, he was secretly transferred to a US Air Force C-32A that flew him to Britain, the report mentioned. The operation took place on July 8 as tensions with Iran were escalating. Iran borders Turkey. ALSO READ | ‘Iran Must Pay Back’: Trump Turns Tables On Tehran, Demands Compensation For Decades Of Attacks According to a US official familiar with the operation and another person familiar with Trump’s travel, cited by the report, Trump first boarded the older Air Force One in Ankara in front of cameras.
He was then discreetly moved into an airport catering truck, which transported him to the smaller C-32A aircraft. The C-32A subsequently flew Trump to Britain, arriving at around 10.20 pm. The older Air Force One, carrying journalists and other personnel, arrived minutes later. The arrangement was designed to make it appear that Trump remained aboard the larger aircraft. Trump had publicly said that he would take the older, “baby blue" Air Force One from Ankara to RAF Mildenhall in Britain “for old time’s sake". He also said the newly renovated aircraft would stop at the same base so US service members stationed there could tour the plane. The secret transfer has now provided a different explanation for the unusual aircraft switch. The Iranian threat had previously been reported by US media as the reason Trump did not fly out of Turkey aboard the Qatar-donated aircraft. Several reports had linked the threat to Iranian proxy forces. The aircraft’s security has also come under scrutiny. The Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 had been used by Trump for his journey into Turkey, marking its first overseas trip. The plane had been rapidly retrofitted after Qatar’s royal family donated it to the United States last year. The New York Times had previously reported that the new aircraft did not have some of the security features available on the older Air Force One, including anti-missile defences.
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