Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump’s official aircraft, Air Force One, was forced to make an emergency return late Tuesday night after developing a minor electrical fault shortly after takeoff, officials have confirmed.
The aircraft had departed Joint Base Andrews en route to Davos, Switzerland, where President Trump was scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum, when the crew detected an electrical anomaly onboard. As a precautionary measure, the pilot turned the plane around and returned safely to base.
White House officials said the decision was taken “out of an abundance of caution”, stressing that the issue posed no immediate danger to the president, passengers, or crew. Reports from journalists onboard indicated that cabin lights briefly flickered before the return was initiated.
The aircraft landed safely without incident, and no injuries were recorded. Following the landing, President Trump and his delegation later continued their journey to Davos on alternative aircraft, resulting in only a brief delay to his travel schedule.
Aviation and security experts note that while Air Force One is among the most secure and well-maintained aircraft in the world, any technical irregularity—no matter how minor—triggers strict safety protocols due to the importance of presidential travel.
The White House has since confirmed that the incident will not affect President Trump’s participation in scheduled engagements at the World Economic Forum.