Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews late Tuesday night, roughly one hour after it left the facility in suburban Maryland, because of an electrical issue.
Shortly after takeoff, the crew noticed an “electrical issue” and decided to return to the base in suburban Prince George’s County.
The plane landed shortly after 11 p.m. and the president will get onto another plane.
The lights in the press cabin briefly went out, according to a reporter on the plane who was traveling as part of the press pool with President Trump.
The plane was headed to Zurich, Switzerland, ahead of Mr. Trump’s remarks to the World Economic Forum on Wednesday.
Mr. Trump is speaking at the conference that is attended by political leaders, CEOs and tech titans to discuss the economy. He is expected to unveil proposals to address housing affordability.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt joked that the Qatari plane donated to Mr. Trump to serve as the next Air Force One would be “much better” after the scare.
Preparations began last year to retrofit the Qatari jumbo jet to serve as Air Force One.
The Boeing aircraft, valued at $400 million, was donated by Qatar as an “unconditional gift” with retrofitting costs being borne by the U.S. government.
The deal has ignited criticism from both Mr. Trump’s critics and some allies, with some warning that the gift could be seen as a bribe from a foreign power.
The current presidential fleet includes two 747-200 jets that have been operational for U.S. presidents since the early 1990s, along with a set of smaller 757s.
In February, the U.S. president said he was “not happy” with U.S. aircraft giant Boeing over two new Air Force One aircraft that had been repeatedly delayed and still have yet to be delivered.
At the time, he suggested that the administration could “buy a plane or get a plane.”
