The New York Times reports that the new plane lacked the same security countermeasures boasted by the older jet, including anti-missile defences.

The sudden change ‘for old time’s sake’ raises new questions about the retrofitted luxury Boeing 747 the US president received as a gift.

Could the new $400 million plane have developed a fault during its inaugural international trip? Or was there something more sinister?

White House denies security concerns prompted switch over from aircraft given to US by Qatar