US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he was secretly moved from Air Force One to another aircraft during a visit to Turkey last month after American security officials received intelligence about a possible Iranian missile threat.
The covert operation took place after the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump was initially expected to leave Turkey aboard Air Force One.
According to reports, the US Secret Service and military officials decided to change the president’s aircraft as a precaution after receiving information about a potential threat involving a shoulder-fired missile.
Trump confirmed the aircraft switch on Tuesday, saying he followed the advice of his security team and the military.
He said the decision was based on concerns that the original aircraft could face a greater risk, although he did not provide further details about the intelligence behind the operation.
In the unusual manoeuvre, Trump was reportedly transferred discreetly to a smaller C-32A military aircraft, with the movement concealed from much of his travelling delegation and the press corps.
The operation reportedly involved using an airport catering vehicle to move Trump away from the main aircraft without attracting attention. Air Force One subsequently departed with senior officials and journalists aboard, effectively serving as a decoy.
The reported threat was believed to have been connected to Iran, amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. However, officials have not publicly established that Iran had a confirmed operational plan to attack Trump’s aircraft.
The revelation has triggered questions in the United States over the decision to leave members of the president’s staff and journalists aboard the apparent decoy aircraft without informing them of the security operation.
Trump, however, has defended the decision, saying presidential security officials routinely make such judgements and that he trusted their assessment.
The incident highlights the heightened security concerns surrounding Trump’s movements as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high.
The White House has maintained that the aircraft switch was a precautionary security measure, while details of the intelligence that prompted the operation remain classified.
