JUST IN: New Details Revealed After Air Force One Executes Emergency Landing

A “minor electrical issue” forced Air Force One to turn back to Maryland less than an hour after takeoff Tuesday night as it headed to Davos, Switzerland, with President Trump aboard, according to the White House. The president later departed on a different aircraft about an hour afterward.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters traveling with the president that shortly after leaving Joint Base Andrews, the crew detected a “minor electrical issue” and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to return to base.

Air Force One touched down back at Andrews at 11:07 p.m. Eastern time.

Reporters on board said the lights in the press cabin briefly went out after takeoff, though no additional explanation was provided.

Trump then boarded a replacement aircraft that departed shortly after midnight. The backup plane was an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 typically used for presidential travel to smaller airports, according to the Associated Press.

The president is traveling to Davos for the World Economic Forum and was scheduled to address the gathering around 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, shortly after landing.

President Donald J. Trump has landed in Davos and is set to deliver his address at the World Economic Forum shortly. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZKhZLDzPkA

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 21, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, already in Davos, said Donald Trump would arrive about three hours behind schedule.

“This will be an interesting trip,” the president told reporters on the White House lawn before departing for Joint Base Andrews. “I have no idea what is going to happen. But you are well represented.”

The Air Force currently operates two modified Boeing 747s as Air Force One, both of which have been in service since 1990. They were slated for replacement in 2024, but delivery of the first new aircraft has been pushed to 2027, with the second delayed until 2028, according to the Air Force.

Last summer, Trump confirmed that the Qatari royal family had donated a Boeing 747-8 valued at $400 million to eventually serve as Air Force One. However, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said renovating the jet could cost several hundred million dollars before it is ready for use.

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