Biden Faces Air Force One Malfunction as White House Acknowledges Trump’s Concerns About Aircraft

Air Force One’s mechanical issue bolsters Trump’s case for new presidential aircraft, White House says

A minor mechanical issue that forced Air Force One to return to base shortly after takeoff Tuesday evening has reinforced President Donald Trump’s longstanding concerns about the aging presidential fleet, according to White House officials.

The plane experienced what the White House described as a “minor electrical issue” approximately 45 minutes after departing for Davos, Switzerland, where Trump was scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum. Cabin lights reportedly went out during the flight, prompting the crew to return to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland “out of an abundance of caution,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“The minor mechanical issue proves that President Trump was right again,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital. “The new Air Force One will be a welcome donation to the United States Air Force, not just for the President, but for the entire Air Force One crew.”

The incident comes amid a years-long effort to update the presidential aircraft fleet. In May 2025, the Department of Defense formally accepted a 747 jetliner from Qatar that will serve as a replacement for one of the two current Air Force One planes. According to The Wall Street Journal, the new aircraft is expected to be operational by summer 2026, following extensive security modifications and counter-espionage inspections by the Pentagon.

The Qatar donation has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans who have raised concerns about potential security vulnerabilities and constitutional questions surrounding a foreign gift of this magnitude. Despite these objections, the administration has moved forward with the acquisition.

“The Air Force remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the Presidential airlift mission,” an Air Force spokesperson stated, confirming the summer 2026 target delivery date.

Trump has been vocal about his frustration with the condition of the current Air Force One fleet, which is approximately 40 years old. He has repeatedly criticized Boeing for delays in delivering new presidential aircraft under an existing contract.

“We’re very disappointed that it’s taking Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One,” Trump said during a press conference in May. “We have an Air Force One that’s 40 years old. And if you take a look at that, compared to the new plane of the equivalent stature at the time, it’s not even the same ballgame.”

The current Boeing contract, which Trump famously criticized in December 2016 for its “$4 billion” price tag, remains in effect. According to Air and Space Forces Magazine, the Air Force reported in December 2025 that the first jet under this contract should be delivered by mid-2028.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged Trump’s dissatisfaction with the production timeline in February 2025, stating the company was working to accelerate the process.

Leavitt’s quip aboard the malfunctioning plane that a Qatari jet sounded “much better” at the moment highlighted the administration’s eagerness to expedite the presidential aircraft replacement program.

The incident occurred as Trump was en route to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, a gathering of world leaders, business executives, and other prominent figures. During his visit, Trump continued to press European nations on his proposal to transfer control of Greenland from Denmark to the United States, a diplomatic initiative that has generated significant international attention.

Upon returning from Switzerland, Trump departed from the same Air Force One that had experienced the electrical issue days earlier, apparently without further incident.