On Tuesday evening, January 20, 2026, President Trump’s aircraft, Air Force One, was forced to turn back and make an unscheduled landing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland due to a minor electrical malfunction.
The incident occurred while the President was en route to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Here are the key details of what happened:
The Incident
* The Glitch: About 30 to 45 minutes into the flight, the crew detected a "minor electrical issue." Reporters on board noted that the lights in the press cabin flickered and went out briefly after takeoff.
* The U-Turn: The aircraft was flying over the Atlantic Ocean, near Montauk, New York, when it made a 180-degree turn to head back to Washington.
* Precautionary Measure: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the decision to return was made "out of an abundance of caution." The plane landed safely at approximately 11:07 PM ET.
The Aftermath
* Plane Swap: After returning to the base, the President and his team switched to a backup aircraft—an Air Force C-32 (a modified Boeing 757 often used for domestic trips).
* Delayed Arrival: The swap caused a delay of about two to three hours. Trump took off again shortly after midnight on Wednesday and arrived in Davos later that morning to continue his scheduled meetings with global leaders.
* Context: This malfunction has reignited discussions regarding the age of the current VC-25A fleet (the two modified Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One), which have been in service for over 30 years and are awaiting delayed replacements from Boeing.
Would you like more details on the President's schedule in Davos or the status of the new Air Force One planes?
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