Air Force One has returned to the Washington, D.C., area as a precaution after encountering a minor electrical problem before its planned trip to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, as confirmed by White House officials. Following the touchdown of the Boeing 747, the journey resumed using a smaller Boeing 757 that departed past midnight ET on Wednesday, more than two hours later than the original departure.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned on Tuesday night that the decision to head back was taken post-takeoff when the Air Force One crew detected “a minor electrical issue” and opted for a cautious return. A journalist onboard noted a brief blackout in the press cabin lights after takeoff without any immediate explanation.
The current Air Force One planes have been in service for nearly four decades, with Boeing working on newer models that have faced delays. Notably, the ruling family of Qatar gifted a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to President Trump last year to potentially join the Air Force One fleet, a move that attracted scrutiny. The jet is presently undergoing security upgrades.
In a light-hearted moment, Leavitt quipped to reporters on Air Force One that night about the Qatari jet sounding “much better” at the moment.