Air Force One Makes U-Turn Over Atlantic, Returns To Andrews AFB
Air Force One turned around while heading to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday evening.
The crew reportedly detected a “minor electrical problem” and decided to return to Andrews Air Force Base “out of an abundance of caution,” with President Donald Trump and his team planning to board another plane. Trump was on his way to the WEF to deliver a “special speech” Wednesday afternoon local time when the problem occurred. (RELATED: Trump lashes out at CNN reporter over ‘stupid question’ about Iran taking him ‘seriously’)
After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical problem. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 returned to Joint Base Andrews. The president and the team will board another plane and continue to Switzerland. https://t.co/pJ3Jc9NNbS
– Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 21, 2026
Washington Examiner White House reporter Mabinty Quarshie, a member of the “out of town” press group, noted that Air Force One’s cabin lights went out without explanation shortly after takeoff before the plane turned around while flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Air Force One made a safe landing at Andrews Air Force Base, where Trump and those from the VC-25 will take two smaller planes, CNN reported.
“[White House Press Secretary Karoline] Leavitt joked that the Qatari plane sounded ‘much better’ right now,” Quarshie wrote in the report sent to reporters.
Qatar gave Trump a $400 million Boeing 747-8 in May to modify into a VC-25 configuration to serve as Air Force One, a gift that drew criticism from some congressional Democrats. Boeing received a multibillion-dollar contract to build two new modified 747 planes in 2018, which were supposed to be delivered by 2024 but were delayed until 2029.
The Air Force has two VC-25 aircraft, which are modified Boeing 747s, in inventory to serve as Air Force One, according to an Air Force quick fact sheet. The planes are based at Andrews Air Force Base near Camp Springs, Maryland, have a range of 6,800 nautical miles and can reach 630 miles per hour and be refueled in flight by KC-130, KC-10 or KC-46 tankers.
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