President Trump landed in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday after an electrical issue forced him to turn around and switch planes to attend a major economic forum in the Swiss resort town of Davos.
Air Force One was forced to head back to Joint Base Andrews late Tuesday night, roughly one hour after it left the facility in suburban Maryland, because of an electrical issue.
Shortly after takeoff, the crew noticed an “electrical issue” and decided to return to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Prince George’s County.
The lights in the press cabin briefly went out, according to a reporter on the plane who was traveling as part of the press pool with Mr. Trump.
The president, staff and traveling press switched to a small plane, sometimes known as the “baby Air Force One,’ and took off again.
The false start could delay Mr. Trump’s remarks to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday morning.
SEE ALSO: Trump keeps up his Greenland pressure campaign on Europe
Mr. Trump is speaking at the conference attended by political leaders, CEOs and tech titans to discuss the economy. He is expected to unveil proposals on housing affordability and pressure European leaders to accept his Greenland annexation plan.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt joked that the Qatari plane donated to Mr. Trump to serve as the next Air Force One would be “much better” after the scare.
Preparations began last year to retrofit the Qatari jumbo jet to serve as Air Force One. The Boeing aircraft, valued at $400 million, was donated by Qatar as an “unconditional gift” with retrofitting costs being borne by the U.S. government.
The deal has ignited criticism from both Mr. Trump’s critics and some allies, with some warning that the gift could be seen as a bribe from a foreign power.
The current presidential fleet includes two 747-200 jets operational since 1990, along with a set of smaller 757s.
In February, the US president said he was “not happy” with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing over two new Air Force One aircraft that had been repeatedly delayed and still have yet to be delivered.
At the time, he suggested that the administration could “buy a plane or get a plane.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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