Secret Plane Switch: Trump’s Decoy Flight from Ankara

Shortly before Air Force One departed Turkey following last month’s NATO summit, President Trump covertly left the presidential jet, aided by an airport catering truck, according to a U.S. official familiar with the situation. The maneuver was executed due to intelligence revealing a credible missile threat from Iran and allied proxies. U.S. intelligence had discovered a plot to target Trump’s plane as it left Ankara, the capital of Turkey, reported exclusively by CBS News.

During the NATO summit, the president acknowledged the risks associated with the U.S.-Iran conflict, declaring himself Iran’s ‘number one target.’ The Washington Post initially disclosed the secret plane-switching tactic.

Multiple Trump administration officials expressed concerns over the leak of classified procedures, fearing limitations on future protection strategies for U.S. presidents.

Prior to the switch on July 8, Trump announced his decision to depart Ankara on the older Air Force One instead of a newer, Qatari-donated jet used for the summit. He cited nostalgia and the opportunity for U.S. forces at a U.K. refueling stop to inspect the new plane. CBS News, however, reported that the Secret Service recommended using the older plane for security reasons.

Media footage showed Trump ascending the stairs of the old Air Force One and vanishing inside the aircraft, with a catering truck visible beside the jet. Minutes later, the truck moved to a separate U.S. government plane, identified by the Post as an Air Force C-32A. Trump then traveled from Ankara to the U.K. refueling stop on this different plane, while journalists and staff believed they were on the same aircraft as the president.

While in Ankara, reporters in Air Force One’s press cabin were instructed to keep window shades closed. When asked for a reason, Trump mentioned, ‘probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleazebags that we have to deal with.’

In the U.K., Trump transferred to the newer Air Force One, retrofitted by the U.S. Air Force after its donation by Qatar. He engaged with the press while flying to Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration did not publicly disclose that the press and staff were on a decoy plane. Last month, Trump stated that the new Air Force One is undergoing upgrades to address security concerns.

White House communications director Steven Cheung declined to directly comment on the plane switch, stating, ‘The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft with advanced security protocols ensuring the safety of the President and his staff.’ Cheung added that threats against the president are taken seriously, employing all available measures to mitigate such risks.

The Air Force described the new presidential plane as ‘safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission.’