The Secret Service recommended that President Donald Trump depart Turkey on an older Air Force One aircraft as a security precaution, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The recommendation was made out of an abundance of caution amid escalating tensions with Iran.
The Qatari-gifted plane, a newly retrofitted aircraft, had departed earlier for Mildenhall Air Force Base in England. Trump had stated the change in planes was for military personnel to tour the aircraft. When questioned by reporters if security concerns prompted the switch, Trump stated, "I'm No. 1 on the kill list for Iran."
While the administration maintains the new Air Force One is state-of-the-art and equipped with high-level security protocols, the change in plans was influenced in part by differences in security capabilities between the aircraft, according to two U.S. officials. Mike Centrella, former head of field operations for the Secret Service, emphasized the agency's commitment to the president's safety, stating, "The mindset is always the same: plan for what you know, prepare for what you don't and make sure you’re ready for the unexpected."
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said the new Air Force One "has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the president and his staff." He added, "we use every tool at our disposal -- including distraction and misdirection -- to address those threats."
When Trump departed Turkey on the older aircraft to rendezvous with the new plane in England, passengers were reportedly instructed to keep their window shades down. Flight data indicated the plane carrying the president did not activate its tracker until it was over the Black Sea. Trump suggested passengers may have been asked to keep shades down because they were "probably on a dangerous flight."
The speed of the retrofitting of the new plane, completed in about a year, has raised questions about whether it possesses the same defensive security measures as the previous aircraft. Details of the retrofitting are classified. The Air Force has stated the new plane is "safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission."
In July, a group of Senate Democrats sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink requesting transparency into the retrofitting project, claiming national security concerns were being overlooked to deliver Trump a "fancy plane for his personal enjoyment."
The new Air Force One, which underwent modifications in Texas since September at an estimated cost of less than $400 million, is intended for use until shortly before Trump leaves office, at which point ownership is expected to transfer to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation.