Emergency Slide Deploys on Qatari-Gifted Air Force One Before Dallas Flight
Sandego.net – An emergency slide deploys on Qatari-gifted Air Force One before President Donald Trump left Joint Base Andrews for the GOP convention in Dallas, briefly delaying his departure Wednesday.
Trump arrived aboard Marine One shortly after 2 p.m. ET as an emergency slide was visible on the far side of the newer presidential aircraft. A person familiar with the matter said the slide deployed accidentally, but officials quickly determined the jet could still make the trip.
Trump described the activity as a routine inspection when reporters asked about the delay before he boarded the aircraft.
“They were doing a check on the slide, you know, in the emergency. So, I think it takes about 15 minutes,” Trump said.
Trump Waited in Marine One
Marine One touched down at 2:02 p.m. ET, around the time the deployed slide became visible. Trump remained in the helicopter for more than 20 minutes while crews addressed the issue on the tarmac.
During the wait, the older Air Force One, identifiable by its light-blue paint scheme, arrived behind the newer Qatari-gifted jet. The older plane was available as a backup if the newer aircraft could not proceed.
At 2:24 p.m., Trump exited Marine One and boarded the newer aircraft rather than transferring to the older presidential jet.
Asked whether the work was connected to a security concern, Trump said personnel were checking the aircraft to ensure it was operating properly.
“I guess they’ve already put it up. They want to make sure everything works perfectly,” Trump said.
When asked if he was confident the aircraft was safe, Trump replied, “Yeah, I am, or I wouldn’t be on it.” A White House spokesperson referred questions about the incident to Trump’s comments.
Qatari-Gifted Aircraft Remains in Service
The emergency slide deploys on Qatari-gifted Air Force One episode involved the aircraft that recently began serving as the presidential plane. Trump has praised the jet publicly and compared it favorably with the older aircraft that remained ready as a contingency option.
The plane is still expected to receive additional upgrades. Speaking from the Oval Office last week, Trump said it already had extensive equipment but would be sent for further work in October.
“It has a lot of stuff, but to max it out, meaning you can go into any territory, it’ll take about 60 days,” Trump said.
Presidential aircraft require specialized communications and security systems, as well as careful contingency planning. The presence of the older Air Force One underscored the backup arrangements available when a plane needs attention before departure.
Future Presidential Travel
Trump is expected to use the Qatari-gifted aircraft again later this week for travel to Ireland. The trip follows his flight on the jet to Turkey two months earlier, when he later left the country secretly aboard a different aircraft because of security concerns.
Those circumstances differed from Wednesday’s slide deployment, but both reflected the changing operational and security demands involved in presidential travel. In this case, the issue was resolved at Joint Base Andrews, and Trump continued to Dallas aboard the newer aircraft.
FAQ: Emergency Slide Deployment on Air Force One
Did the emergency slide deployment stop Trump’s trip?
No. Trump’s departure was briefly delayed, but he boarded the Qatari-gifted aircraft and continued to Dallas for the Republican convention.
Was the older Air Force One used?
No. The older light-blue aircraft was positioned as a backup, but Trump ultimately traveled on the newer jet.
What did officials say caused the slide deployment?
A person familiar with the matter said the slide was deployed accidentally. Trump said crews were conducting checks to make sure the aircraft was functioning properly.
