Washington, Jan 21 (UNI) President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) will board a backup aircraft after Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews due to a "minor electrical glitch" identified shortly after takeoff.
Air Force One has landed safely on the ground at Joint Base Andrews at 11:07 pm, according to White House pooler Kaitlan Collins.
According to the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the aircraft crew detected the issue and decided to return as a precaution.
Open-source flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange showed the plane turning back over the Atlantic Ocean near Montauk, New York, close to the eastern tip of Long Island.
Following the landing, President Trump and his team will switch to a different aircraft to continue their journey.
Trump was en route to Davos, Switzerland, where he is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026.
In a statement posted on X, the Official White House Rapid Response Team said, “After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical issue. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews. The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland.”
Air Force One, operated by the U.S. Air Force, has long been a symbol of the presidency. Boeing has supplied specially configured aircraft for presidential transport since 1943, from the Boeing 314 Clipper to the current VC-25A and the next-generation VC-25B.
Trump’s trip comes amid rising tensions with European allies over the U.S. push to acquire Greenland.
Air Force One is the designated call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States.The highly customised Boeing 747-200B series aircraft is capable of mid-air refueling. Its onboard electronics are hardened to protect against electromagnetic pulses, and it is equipped with advanced secure communications, allowing it to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States.
Inside, the President and his travel companions enjoy 4,000 square feet of floor space across three levels, including an extensive presidential suite with a large office, lavatory, and conference room. Air Force One also includes a medical suite that can function as an operating room, with a doctor permanently on board. The plane’s two food preparation galleys can feed up to 100 people at a time.
The aircraft also provides quarters for those traveling with the President, including senior advisors, Secret Service officers, the traveling press, and other guests. Several cargo planes typically fly ahead of Air Force One to provide vehicles and other services needed in remote locations.
Air Force One is maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group, part of the White House Military Office. The Airlift Group was founded in 1944 as the Presidential Pilot Office under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. For the next 15 years, various propeller-driven aircraft served the President until President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew to Europe aboard the VC-137A, a Boeing 707 Stratoliner, in August 1959.
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