Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty
There were scenes of panic at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews, with Air Force One being forced to turn back shortly after it took off for Switzerland. President Donald Trump was due to discuss all things Greenland at the World Economic Forum, but as a motorcade of flashing lights raced to the base, there were fears about whether an incident had happened aboard the presidential jet.
Amid complaints that the aging Air Force passenger fleet needs updating, Donald Trump has been vocal about his disdain for the pair of Boeing 747-200 planes.
Still, with speculation it could cost taxpayers a bank-busting $1 billion to transform a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet that was gifted from the Qatar royal family, we're best sticking with Boeing's current mission to convert a pair of 747-800 planes.
The next generation of jets were originally supposed to take off in 2022 but are now due to fly in mid-2028. As for what caused the latest panic aboard Air Force One, the White House has dispelled speculation that there was a medical emergency involving the POTUS.
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A White House official instead said that a "minor electrical issue" forced Air Force One to return to Joint Base Andrews, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that President Trump would board a smaller plane at the base and head to Switzerland on a delayed schedule.
Leavitt added that Air Force One turned around after the crew noted some of the cabin lights weren't working, deciding to return to the base "out of an abundance of caution."
This is the latest incident that calls Air Force One's ailing health into question. In February 2025, one of the planes had to return to Washington while carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Germany. It was followed by an October issue where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was forced to make an emergency landing in the United Kingdom because of a crack in the windshield.
Trump is so disgruntled with the progress of the new Air Force One fleet that his administration has even said it's "looking at alternatives" to Boeing.
hope its not a health issue.
— Dr.K🇰🇷🇺🇸 (@DrCrypto911) January 21, 2026
sources say its a "minor electrical" issue but not sure why such minor issue wasnt detected in routine pre-flight check?
anyways.
Despite the White House confirming it was a minor electrical fault, the internet was awash with conspiracy theories that something had happened to the POTUS. Those who've watched HBO's Succession will know something pretty devastating happens to one of the main characters while flying on a private jet. As you can imagine, the Succession memes and gifs started flowing in.
Even as some claimed the White House was covering up something more serious, it appears President Trump is finally on the way again. It's said he boarded a smaller Air Force C-32, which is a modified Boeing 757.
Due to land in Davos at 10:00 local time, it means Trump will arrive around three hours late.
It's unclear how the setback will affect the president's tight schedule, with various meetings expected to take place before his planned 14:30 speech. After previously promising he'll use his platform to tell the world leaders "we have to have it" when it comes to Greenland, there are no prizes for guessing what the crux of his speech will be about.
