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Air Force One returning to DC area due to minor issue
The White House said late Tuesday night that after President Donald Trump departed Washington D.C. to head to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Air Force One crew identified a "minor" electrical issue aboard the aircraft. "Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews," according to a statement. "The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland."
WASHINGTON - Air Force One was forced to return to Washington, D.C., after it experienced a minor electrical issue Tuesday evening. The plane was carrying the president and was on its way to Switzerland.
What we know:
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to return was made after takeoff when the crew aboard Air Force One identified "a minor electrical issue" and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to turn around.
President Donald Trump will board another aircraft upon his return and continue on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
A view of Air Force One after returning to Joint Base Andrews on Jan. 20, 2026 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Air Force One, with President Donald Trump on board, returned to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departing for Switzerland due to a minor …
The backstory:
The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for nearly four decades. Boeing has been working on replacements, but the program has faced a series of delays.
Air Force One is required to have four engines, unlike most of today’s passenger planes, which have two. Onboard is the highest level of classified communications and external protection against foreign surveillance. The planes are equipped with air-to-air refueling capabilities so they can fly for as long as needed. Air Force One is built for the worst possible scenarios, like nuclear war, so that the president can still command military forces from the sky.
Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added to the Air Force One fleet, a move that faced great scrutiny. That plane is currently being retrofitted to meet security requirements.
The most recent data from 2020 says at least 20 planes make up the executive fleet. A newly constructed plane has not been added in nearly 27 years. Some of those currently in service are expected to stay flying for another 13 years.
Last February, an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Germany had to return to Washington because of a mechanical issue. In October, a military plane carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had to make an emergency landing in United Kingdom due to a crack in the windshield.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press and previous reporting by FOX News. This story was reported from San Jose.