President Donald Trump switched aircraft abruptly while departing Turkey in mid-July during the NATO summit, following a credible security threat assessed by U.S. officials involving Iranian proxy groups targeting him and the plane he was aboard. The incident occurred after Mr. Trump initially flew into Ankara on a Boeing 747-8 jet recently donated by Qatar, which officials judged lacked the advanced defensive features of the older Air Force One model.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the matter reported that the U.S. Secret Service advised the president to change planes due to these security concerns. Although the new Qatari-donated aircraft underwent a rapid retrofit process to serve as Air Force One, it reportedly did not meet all the established countermeasures against missile attacks and other threats. After the threat intelligence emerged, Mr. Trump switched to the older Boeing 747 typically used as Air Force One for his departure from Turkey, landing at an air base in Britain. White House officials later confirmed the newer jet would be temporarily removed from service for further upgrades planned to last about a month.

The specific threat prompting the plane switch was separate from intelligence reportedly shared by Israel regarding Iranian efforts to kill the president. Some U.S. officials expressed skepticism toward the Israeli intelligence, suggesting it might have been intended to push the administration toward a more confrontational stance on Iran. The underlying threat focused broadly on Mr. Trump himself and the aircraft he was traveling in, rather than the new jet specifically.

At the time, the United States had resumed military strikes against Iranian targets, even as Mr. Trump attended the NATO summit approximately 1,000 miles from Tehran. The president publicly acknowledged concerns about assassination attempts by Iran and its proxies, noting he believed he was “on every single one of their lists.” Such threats have persisted throughout his political career, intensifying after the U.S. killed Qassim Suleimani, a senior Iranian general.

The Qatari Boeing 747-8, about 14 years old, was intended as a temporary replacement until the delivery of newly commissioned Air Force One aircraft long planned by the Air Force. President Trump has previously criticized the older jets as outdated and insufficient for international travel. The White House stated the new plane remains safe for presidential travel but will receive additional enhancements this fall.

Separately, the director of the Secret Service noted recently that the current threat environment for protective security has never been higher, citing increased risks not only to national officials but also to local authorities. The heightened security posture, combined with specific intelligence on assassination attempts, contributed to the precautionary measures taken around the NATO summit trip. The government also initiated a leak investigation following public reports about the jet's security shortcomings, though subpoenas targeting journalists were later withdrawn.