US President Donald Trump experienced a delay on Wednesday after an emergency inflatable evacuation slide on the Qatari-donated Air Force One deployed unexpectedly on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews. The incident occurred as Trump was preparing to board the Boeing 747 for a flight to Dallas, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech to a Republican Party convention.
The 80-year-old president was held in his helicopter while military personnel inspected the slide, which is part of the aircraft’s emergency evacuation system. Trump told reporters on the ground that the slide was being checked and expected the process to take about 15 minutes. A source familiar with the situation later confirmed that the inflatable slide had been accidentally triggered by military staff.
This event adds to ongoing concerns regarding the safety and security of the aircraft, which was gifted to the United States by the Qatari royal family last year. The plane was repainted in a red, white, and blue scheme chosen by Trump and has been the subject of scrutiny since it entered service. In a notable incident in July, Trump bypassed the official Air Force One after a NATO summit in Turkey amid reports of a missile threat from Iran, transferring instead to a separate plane using a covert route.
Upon arriving at Joint Base Andrews, the president remained on board his helicopter longer than usual while the jet was moved from its hangar to the tarmac and boarding bridges were extended. Observers noted the deployed inflatable slide on the right side of the plane during this time.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung affirmed that the slide was being examined to ensure it was fully operational and confirmed that Trump would proceed with his scheduled speech at the convention. When asked about the aircraft's safety, Trump expressed confidence, stating, “Yeah I am, or I wouldn’t be on it.”
The donation of the aircraft, valued at several hundred million dollars, sparked ethical and constitutional debate regarding gifts to the US president from foreign governments. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the security and integrity of foreign-donated military equipment. The jet underwent refitting by the US military to meet operational standards and is currently in service until Boeing delivers two new Air Force One planes planned for the coming years.
Trump has also indicated plans to retain the Qatari plane as part of his future presidential museum collection. Meanwhile, work to enhance the aircraft’s security measures is scheduled to begin in October and will take approximately two months, slightly longer than initially anticipated.