Was Iran Targeting Trump? Why did the US president switch from the Boeing 747-8 to the older Air Force One? The report reveals…. | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump reportedly switched from a Boeing 747-8 recently donated by Qatar to an older Air Force One before leaving Turkey earlier this month after intelligence agencies received information about a “credible threat” from Iranian proxy forces allegedly targeting him.
The security alert came during Trump’s visit to Ankara for a NATO summit, according to The New York Times. He arrived in Turkey aboard a Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, which was not yet equipped with the advanced defense systems installed on the primary Air Force One aircraft.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, The New York Times reported that the US Secret Service advised Trump to change planes before departing Turkey after identifying the threat. Although intelligence had suggested that the Iranian proxy forces were targeting Trump rather than the planes, officials reportedly viewed the newer Boeing’s relatively limited defensive capabilities as a greater security risk.
CBS News later confirmed the report on Friday, saying the US Secret Service approved the plane change after intelligence agencies warned of a “credible plot to launch a missile at the aircraft”.
Trump flew to Ankara aboard an approximately $400 million Boeing 747-8, which the United States received as a gift from Qatar last year and then modified for presidential use. After the NATO summit, he traveled from Ankara to the UK on an older Air Force One before returning to a plane donated by Qatar to fly back to the US.
The incident has reignited questions about the safety capabilities of the newly acquired aircraft. According to CBS News, citing people familiar with the matter, the older Air Force One is equipped with sophisticated defense systems, including laser technology designed to disable incoming missiles as well as countermeasures that can deflect or confuse enemy projectiles.
It is not known which defense systems were installed on the Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar.
“For old time’s sake,” Trump says of why he chose to fly on the older Air Force One
Earlier this month, Trump did not attribute his decision to change the plane to security concerns, telling reporters that he decided to fly the older Air Force One “for old times’ sake.” He added that while the newer aircraft already “has a lot of capability”, it will be “maximized” over the next month as more technical improvements are completed.
Trump has spoken repeatedly in recent months about alleged Iranian threats against his life. He previously said he had ordered the US military to destroy Iran “at levels never seen before” if Tehran carried out what he described as prolonged assassinations targeting it.
The revelations come as the Trump administration considers other military options against Tehran following the collapse of a recent ceasefire.
“We’re talking to them. I think they’re serious. I think … they’re by far the most serious we’ve seen them, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to get there. We’ll see what happens,” Trump said at the White House on Friday.
“We’re locked and loaded. We’re ready to go,” he added.
