WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump secretly left Turkey for the United Kingdom on a small aircraft last month after receiving an assassination threat from Iran, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Monday.
Although Trump was seen boarding the large Air Force One aircraft, he reportedly departed Turkey separately aboard a smaller C-32A plane. The unusual security measure was reportedly taken amid concerns about potential threats from Iranian proxy groups.
According to an unidentified U.S. official who spoke to The Washington Post, Trump boarded Air Force One in Ankara on July 8. He was then taken to a catering container attached to the aircraft, from where he was transferred to the smaller C-32A aircraft. The smaller plane subsequently flew him to Britain.
During the operation, media representatives and some officials were reportedly led to believe that Trump was still aboard the larger Air Force One. Journalists traveling on the large aircraft were also instructed to keep their window shades closed. Such measures are commonly used for security reasons in conflict zones and appeared to reflect heightened concerns over the president’s safety.
Earlier, U.S. media outlets had reported that Trump did not use a new Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted to the United States by Qatar when leaving Turkey because of potential security threats from Iranian proxy groups.
Trump had traveled to Ankara to attend a NATO summit. He had reportedly said that he would use the older Boeing 747 so that U.S. military personnel stationed in Britain could see the aircraft. However, The New York Times and other American media outlets reported that the aircraft was changed because of security concerns involving possible attacks by Iranian proxy groups.
The incident also raised questions about the security capabilities of the new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar. Reports indicated that the aircraft did not initially have all of the security features found on the older Air Force One aircraft, particularly systems designed to protect the president against missile attacks.
Qatar’s royal family gifted the luxury Boeing 747 to the United States last year following a request from President Trump. Trump had repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the two older Boeing 747 aircraft that have served as Air Force One since the 1990s.
The aircraft received from Qatar was rapidly refurbished and modified for use by the U.S. president. Trump was first flown to North Dakota aboard the aircraft on July 1. A few days later, he used the same aircraft for his trip to Turkey, which was his first foreign trip aboard the newly refurbished plane.
Following an inquiry by AFP regarding The Washington Post report, the White House defended the security of the new Air Force One. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the aircraft was highly advanced and that strict security protocols were in place to ensure the safety of the president and his staff.
Cheung also referred to Trump’s recent comments that the United States has many enemies and that many of them are targeting him. He said the administration was using all available resources to deal with such threats. The White House had expressed a similar position last month when questions were raised about the aircraft’s security capabilities.
Video released by The Washington Post reportedly shows Trump boarding the large Air Force One in Ankara. A few minutes later, a truck carrying catering supplies is seen leaving the older aircraft. The vehicle is then shown traveling toward the smaller C-32A aircraft.
After both aircraft landed in Britain, Trump was seen in video footage descending the stairs from the large Air Force One before proceeding to the newly refurbished presidential aircraft.
However, The Washington Post said it remained unclear exactly how Trump was transferred from the smaller C-32A aircraft to the larger plane.
(Rss/AFP)
