Troops accidentally activated the inflatable emergency slide on the new presidential jet, Air Force One, which was a gift from Qatar. A source familiar with the situation told NBC News. The incident occurred before President Donald Trump flew to Dallas, Texas, for the first-ever US Republican Party convention ahead of the midterm elections. — as a result, landing was delayed by about 20 minutes.
Trump arrived on Wednesday by Marine One helicopter from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where he was to transfer to the presidential jet to fly to Dallas. However, after landing, the president remained in the helicopter for several minutes. At this time, an inflatable slide resembling an emergency evacuation slide opened in the nose of the new Air Force One.
Trump later walked onto the tarmac where staff were inspecting equipment. The president told reporters that the gangway was simply being “checked.” When asked if he was confident in the plane’s safety, Trump replied that “otherwise he wouldn’t fly on it.” Meanwhile, the former Air Force One was brought onto the new plane as a backup option.
“They want to make sure everything works perfectly,” the president told reporters.
The President waited for about 20 minutes, after which the ramp was dismantled and taken away, and the plane took off for Dallas. It landed safely at approximately 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)—about two hours later than expected.
As ABC News notes, emergency slides are not typically inspected immediately before departure because lengthy removal and replacement could result in flight delays.
The White House, in response to a question about the reasons for the operation of the ladder, referred to the words of the president himself.
The Boeing 747-8, donated by Qatar, which journalists in the United States nicknamed the “flying palace,” previously underwent a large-scale upgrade, the cost of which is estimated at about $400 million. Defense contractor L3Harris converted the commercial airliner for use as a presidential jet in ten months. At the same time, the question of whether there is a full range of security systems on board still remains open. The NYT reported, citing sources, that the new aircraft does not yet have all the capabilities of the old presidential plane.
In July, Trump, on the recommendation of the Secret Service, changed the plane on the way from the NATO summit in Turkey, since the new aircraft donated by Qatar was not equipped with missile defense systems. The situation was associated with the threat of an assassination attempt on the president amid the renewed conflict with Iran. Later that month, the head of the White House said that the plane would be sent for retrofitting.
The first day of the Republican National Convention ended with a nearly two-hour speech by the president. If the Republicans retain their majority in Congress, Trump announced a “dividend” of $5,000 for every adult American. The president compared it to paying the military $1,776 in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
