Trump-Greenland newest: US president’s flight to Davos turns again over ‘electrical issue’ on Air Force One
The flight taking Donald Trump to Davos was forced to turn back to Joint Base Andrews late on Tuesday after the crew on board Air Force One identified a “minor electrical issue”.
The U.S. president and other passengers will now take two smaller planes as they head for the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where Trump will hold critical talks over Greenland’s future with angered European leaders.
Shortly before boarding Air Force One, Trump boasted on social media: “America will be well represented in Davos — by me.”
Before his departure, he held a 90-minute press conference in which he revealed he has “a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland” during the Davos trip. Trump also used the press conference to issue an ominous message about US intentions.
“You’ll find out” was his three-word answer when asked how far he would go to gain the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Trump has refused to rule out the use of military force to achieve his objectives.
Trump is again en route to Davos
Donald Trump has now departed Maryland on board a smaller Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757, and is again on his way to Davos in Switzerland.
Trump had departed earlier at around 9.30pm local time but was forced to turn back after crew on Air Force One identified a “minor electrical issue”.
After returning to Joint Base Andrews he and other passengers were moved to two smaller planes, and his new aircraft began rolling down the tarmac at 12.02am, according to the reporting pool.
It is unclear at this stage whether the significant delay in departure will affect Trump’s schedule for Wednesday at Davos.
Trump boards new plane
President Donald Trump has boarded a new aircraft while his staff was seen scrambling to transfer luggage and food from Air Force One, which was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews following a “minor electrical issue”.
Trump boarded an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used by the president for domestic trips to smaller airports, and continued on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos shortly after midnight.
Reporters who were travelling with the president to Davos, Switzerland, described seeing a lot of commotion, including several staffers deplaning with their bags.
The travelling entourage will be split into two smaller planes, according to reports.
Trump says he won’t attend emergency meeting on Greenland
French president Emmanuel Macron this week called for an emergency meeting in Paris with European leaders to address tensions with the U.S. over Donald Trump’s pursuit to acquire Greenland.
Trump told reporters that he would not attend the meeting, in part because Macron would not be leading his country for much longer.
Earlier this week, Trump shared private texts from Macron and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte on social media.
Past issues involving Air Force One
Air safety incidents involving the U.S. president, vice president and other officials are rare, but not unprecedented.
Last February, an Air Force plane carrying secretary of state Marco Rubio to Germany had to return to Washington because of a mechanical issue.
In October, a military plane carrying defence secretary Pete Hegseth had to make an emergency landing in the U.K. due to a crack in the windshield.
Air Force One aborted a landing due to bad weather while carrying president Barack Obama to an event in Connecticut in 2011.
In 2012, the Air Force Two plane carrying then-vice president Joe Biden was struck by birds in California, before it landed without a problem.
Air Force One is seen on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews after returning due to ‘electrical issue’
Trump and passengers to head for Davos in two smaller planes
President Donald Trump and the passengers who were with him on board Air Force One will now be split up into two smaller planes for the journey to Davos according to CNN.
Air Force One has landed safely back at Joint Base Andrews near Washington after it was forced to turn back because flight crew identified “a minor electrical issue” shortly after takeoff.
Air Force One returns to Washington
Air Force One lands at Joint Base Andrews
Donald Trump’s Air Force One has landed at Joint Base Andrews around 11.45pm after it was forced to return to base following a “minor electrical issue”, according to the White House.
Trump will board another aircraft and continue on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Republican doesn’t rule out military action to seize Greenland
A top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee refuses to rule out the use of the U.S. military to seize.
“I think Nato is an important strategic alliance, and I don’t want to see any sacrifice of Nato whatsoever,” said Representative Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“They’re important allies, and we want to see that to continue.”But while Mast, a close Trump ally, said the U.S. and its European allies were having a “hard conversation” that he expected would ultimately bring the longtime allies closer, he did not rule out the Trump administration using military force to take over Greenland, provided it was legally within Trump’s constitutional powers.
“I’m willing to accept any action that takes place based upon the authorities that the administration has,” Mast said.
“There’s not going to be any option that’s taken off the table.”
Under the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war and the duty to fund the military, while the president serves as head of the armed forces.
Lights in the press cabin of Air Force One go out – report
President Donald Trump’s plane, Air Force One, is returning to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after departing for Switzerland due to a “minor electrical issue”, the White House said.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to return was made out of an abundance of caution.
A reporter on board said the lights in the press cabin of the aircraft went out briefly after takeoff, but no explanation was offered, the Associated Press reported.
Trump will board another aircraft upon his return and continue on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for nearly four decades. Boeing has been working on replacements, but the program has faced a series of delays.
Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added into the Air Force One fleet, a move that faced great scrutiny.
Leavitt joked to reporters on Air Force One Tuesday night that a Qatari jet was sounding “much better” right now.
Source: independent.co.uk
