An emergency slide deployed from the Qatar-gifted Air Force One Boeing 747 at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday was part of a safety check, according to President Donald Trump.
Reporters questioned the deployment after observing the slide extend from the aircraft while Trump remained aboard Marine One. The president later addressed the situation, stating that the equipment was being tested.
"They were checking it before, and they just wanted to make sure," Trump told reporters on the tarmac after exiting Marine One. "So they’ve, I guess, already put it up. They want to make sure everything works perfectly."
The unusual scene unfolded as Marine One landed near the presidential aircraft. The White House print pool reported seeing what appeared to be an inflatable emergency slide deployed from the right-side front door of the newer Boeing 747. This door is not the one the president typically uses for boarding.
Simultaneously, the older, white-and-blue Air Force One was moved into position behind the newer jet and deployed its front and rear stairs. The door of Marine One remained closed for a period, fueling speculation about potential disruptions to Trump's travel plans.
It was not immediately clear if the safety check would influence which aircraft Trump would use for his subsequent travel.