Trump’s plane enroute to WEF at Davos makes U-turn after ‘minor’ technical snag: White House

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’ plane Air Force One had to return to the Andrews Joint Base shortly after takeoff after the crew detected a technical snag.

Trump was on Tuesday (local time) on his way to Davos in Switzerland where he is set to deliver his keynote address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026. The “minor electrical issue” was identified by the Air Force One after takeoff.

“After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical issue. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews. The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland,” the Official White House Rapid Response Team said on its X account.

US President Donald Trump’s plane, by which he was supposed to travel to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, the Air Force One, on Tuesday (local time) suffered a technical glitch.

After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical issue. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews. The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland. https://t.co/pJ3Jc9NNbS

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 21, 2026

Since the inception of the modern Air Force One fleet, Boeing has been delivering aircraft tailored for the mission of supporting the president of the United States.

As stated on the Boeing website, their aircraft have transported US presidents around the world since 1943, when Franklin Roosevelt became the first commander in chief to fly in an airplane — a Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat known as Dixie Clipper. From the current VC-25A (747-200) to the next-generation VC-25B (747-800), Boeing 747 airplanes emblazoned with the presidential seal and ‘United States of America’ are one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency, continuing the tradition of Air Force One, the iconic call sign when the president is aboard.

An urgent diplomatic intervention is awaiting Trump in Davos after he spent days spent threatening at US allies in EU over Greenland.

Meanwhile, top European officials are planning to use this week’s annual summit for staging ground to avert the crisis that has put the continent on edge, as per CNN.

That push from allies comes as even some in Trump’s orbit have expressed private misgivings over the president’s rhetoric and have sought an off-ramp, CNN reported. (ANI)