US President Donald Trump speaking to reporters before boarding the newer Air Force One, a plane given to the White House by the Qatari government. ReutersInfoWhite House denies security concerns prompted switch over from aircraft given to US by Qatar
President Trump flew home from the Nato summit in Turkey aboard the older Air Force One, bypassing the newer Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8.
The White House denied reports that the switch was security-driven, insisting the Qatari aircraft is "state-of-the-art" with "high-level security protocols."
The newer jet, which cost approximately $400 million to retrofit, reportedly lacks the missile-detection systems installed on the older presidential aircraft.
Tensions with Iran escalated after Trump ordered fresh strikes, with US forces hitting around 90 targets along Iran's coastline, prompting retaliatory drone and missile attacks.
