Trump flies old Air Force One out of Turkey, switches to new jet in Britain for trip home

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-he-will-use-old-air-force-one-travel-uk-with-new-plane-going-there-2026-07-08/

Donald Trump unexpectedly left Turkey on Wednesday aboard an older Air Force One rather than ‌the newly renovated Qatari-donated jet that brought him there, but later boarded the new plane in Britain for the flight to Washington.

The trip to Turkey for the NATO summit, the first international travel for the new plane, took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, a country that borders Turkey.

The unexpected plane switch followed months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggled to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.

92 points · 19 comments · view on lemmy.world

19 Comments

modestmeme@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 42d (1 reply)

Must have been one hell of a diaper leak

Etnaphele@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 41d

For the plane, it had to evacuate the stinker it had in its belly.

ShredderFeeder@shredderfood.net · 33 pts · 42d (5 replies)

If the Quataris have a self-distruct button...now would be an awesome time to test it.

meco03211@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 42d (1 reply)

Ejecto-seato cuz!

phutatorius@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 40d

That'd be funny because only part of him would make it through the ejection hatch.

GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 42d (1 reply)

No, about 24 hours ago would’ve been an awesome time. Now it’s just folks following (legal) orders to move a plane who don’t deserve it.

ShredderFeeder@shredderfood.net · 4 pts · 42d

I read that he's taking the new jet from the UK home... I say put it down where the titanic went down. Perfect.

phutatorius@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 40d

Along with the Omanis, they're some of the less odious of the Gulfies. Do Abu Dhabi or Dubai first. And Sharjah is just hoping nobody notices they're there.

drdalek@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 30 pts · 41d (3 replies)

IF he decides to leave office when its time, he will try and keep the jet. Quote me

qantravon@lemmy.world · 37 pts · 41d (2 replies)

That's already a known part of the deal. After his term, it goes to his "presidential library", which is pretty much wholly controlled by him.

drdalek@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 41d

I didnt know this. Cheers!

phutatorius@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 40d

So, an even more glaringly obvious bribe than previously reported.

areakode@riskeratspizza.com · 28 pts · 42d

lol. Qatar sent him an incriminating photo from one of their spy cameras on the flight over. "Just a reminder who your daddy is..."

Sludgehammer@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 42d (2 replies)

It's well known that the Qatar jet was a lemon that they gave to Trump as a white elephant gift. It probably developed some mechanical problem(s) and they had to ground it for repairs.

apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 42d

No disbelief here but that thing is probably a ship of Theseus situation. It will probably be years perhaps decades before we know how much money went into that thing before it took over as Air Force One.

ShredderFeeder@shredderfood.net · 8 pts · 42d

Nah they should have just ran with it...

Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 41d

I bet there's better missile countermeasures in the "old" jet.

It's probably a concern being so close to various conflict hotspots.

TryingToBeGood@reddthat.com · 7 pts · 41d

why couldn't he take the old jet the whole way? How much is it costing to fly multiple jets around for this dickwad?

anon_8675309@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 40d

“Old one”.

The Air Force wouldn’t let him in it if it wasn’t in perfect shape.