Air Force One Makes Emergency U-Turn After Mid-Air Blackout

A high-stakes diplomatic mission got off to a turbulent start on Tuesday night when Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump to the World Economic Forum in Davos, was forced to execute an abrupt U-turn and return to Joint Base Andrews due to a technical malfunction.

The drama began approximately one hour after takeoff. According to reporters on board, the lights in the press cabin suddenly flickered and went out. The White House later confirmed that a "minor electrical issue" had been detected and that the decision to return to Washington was made out of an "abundance of caution."

The incident has once again highlighted the aging state of the two aircraft that serve as "Air Force One," which have been in service for nearly four decades. While Boeing is currently working on replacements, the project has been plagued by delays.

Addressing the situation with a touch of humor, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt joked with reporters that the luxury aircraft gifted to President Trump by the Qatari royal family last year is starting to sound like a "much better option" right now.

Despite the mid-air scare, President Trump did not cancel his trip. The entourage transferred to a C-32 aircraft—a smaller, modified Boeing 757 usually used for domestic travel or by the Vice President—and departed again for Switzerland shortly after midnight.

The President arrives in Davos under a cloud of diplomatic tension, particularly surrounding his recent threats to impose tariffs on European nations over the Greenland dispute.

Before the initial takeoff, Trump promised reporters: "Let's put it this way: It's going to be a very interesting Davos." It seems the drama that began with a technical glitch in the air is merely a prelude to the political storm awaiting on the ground.