Secret Service Swaps Trump to Old Air Force One Over Iran Security Fears—July 9

The Secret Service urged President Trump to depart Turkey on the older Air Force One instead of the newly retrofitted Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 on July 9 as a precaution amid escalating Iran tensions. No specific threat was identified, but U.S. officials cited differences in security capabilities between the two aircraft. Trump later flew the new plane from England back to the United States, but the swap has raised questions about whether the $1 billion Qatari aircraft is fully mission-ready.

Why the Secret Service recommended the older plane

The Secret Service advised Trump to use the older Air Force One due to differences in security capabilities between the two aircraft, according to multiple U.S. officials. The change came amid escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran shot at three vessels on Tuesday. No specific or credible threat prompted the recommendation, but it was made as a precautionary measure during the ongoing war, sources told CBS News.

What the older plane has that the new one may lack

The older Air Force One is equipped with laser technology to blind incoming missiles, sophisticated military defenses from the Cold War era, and systems to misdirect incoming munitions, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. The Air Force declined to discuss whether the Boeing 747-8 Qatari jet has been equipped with those same systems. When Trump left Turkey, passengers on the older plane were instructed to keep their window shades down, and flight data showed the aircraft did not turn on its tracker until it was over the Black Sea near Istanbul.

Trump’s explanation and the new plane’s status

Trump claimed the Qatari-gifted plane was sent to RAF Mildenhall in England so military members could tour it, not for security reasons. However, he told reporters he is “No. 1 on the kill list for Iran” and suggested passengers were on “a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with.” White House communications director Steven Cheung said the new Air Force One is “state-of-the-art” and fitted with high-level security protocols, but the aircraft was hurried into service and is lacking some desired capabilities, U.S. officials told CBS News.

What happens next with the new aircraft

The Boeing 747-8, converted by defense contractor L3Harris over a 10-month period, is 18 feet 4 inches longer than the older Air Force One and includes military modifications such as midair refueling capability. Trump ultimately flew the new plane from England for the final leg of his journey home. The Secret Service urged Trump to use the old Air Force One as a security precaution, but the incident has exposed gaps in the new aircraft’s readiness for presidential operations.

Final Thoughts

The Secret Service’s recommendation to swap planes highlights concerns about whether the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One is fully equipped for high-risk operations. While the White House insists the aircraft meets security standards, the incident suggests defensive systems may still need installation or testing before the plane becomes the primary presidential transport.

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