By Helen Akor
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (chatnewstv.com) — Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews late Tuesday night after a minor electrical issue was detected shortly after the aircraft departed for Switzerland.
The Boeing 747-200, carrying President Donald Trump and his entourage, landed safely at the suburban Maryland facility shortly after 11 p.m., approximately one hour after takeoff. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the crew made the decision to turn back “out of an abundance of caution.”
“After takeoff, the Air Force One crew identified a minor electrical issue,” Leavitt said. She added that the president would switch to a backup aircraft and continue his journey to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
According to reporters traveling in the press pool, the lights in the press cabin briefly went out shortly after takeoff, but no immediate explanation was provided at the time.
The glitch comes as the administration faces ongoing delays from Boeing on two new replacement aircraft, which are years behind schedule. Amid those delays, the White House has moved forward with plans to retrofit a Boeing 747-8i jumbo jet—valued at $400 million—donated last year as an “unconditional gift” from the Qatari government.
The gift has sparked sharp criticism from ethics watchdogs and political opponents who argue it could be perceived as a foreign bribe. During the flight back to Andrews, Leavitt reportedly joked to the press pool that the Qatari plane was starting to sound “much better.”
Trump is scheduled to address global leaders and CEOs in Davos on Wednesday, where he is expected to unveil a series of “aggressive” housing affordability proposals. These include a plan to allow Americans to use 401(k) retirement funds for home down payments and a ban on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes.
The president’s arrival in Switzerland is also anticipated to be overshadowed by heightened tensions with European allies over his recent push to acquire Greenland and his threats to impose tariffs on NATO members who resist the move.
Helen Akor files in this report from the U.S
