Trump unexpectedly switches back to old Air Force One, sidelining Qatari jet

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would fly from Turkey to Britain on an older Air Force One aircraft, an unexpected switch that raised questions about a retrofitted Boeing 747 donated by Qatar that ‌he unveiled only weeks ago as his new presidential jet.

The trip to Turkey was the first international trip for the new plane.

The switch follows months of scrutiny over the luxury gift intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggles to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes. Critics questioned the cost, security and pace of the retrofit.

Trump said on social media that he would use an older Air Force One plane “for old time’s ⁠sake” to fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain while the new plane visits the same base so US service members stationed ‌there can tour the aircraft.

The new plane is a Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar last year and refitted by defence contractor L3Harris Technologies.

The jumbo aircraft has been ‌painted in a red, white, dark blue and gold livery chosen by Trump, marking a departure ⁠from the long-standing design used ⁠on Air Force One for decades.