Berdasatkan keterangan seorang narasumber yang mengetahui persoalan ini, langkah pengamanan dilakukan oleh Dinas Rahasia AS yang secara sembunyi-sembunyi mengalihkan Presiden Amerika Serikat Donald Trump ke pesawat berbadan lebih kecil saat hendak bertolak dari Turki bulan lalu akibat kekhawatiran bahwa pesawat kepresidenan Air Force One bakal dijadikan sasaran tembak rudal panggul milik Iran. MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) atau yang lazim disebut rudal panggul merupakan persenjataan peluru kendali berbobot ringan yang dirancang agar dapat dibawa serta dilepaskan secara mandiri oleh seorang prajurit guna memusnahkan sasaran. Berita mengenai potensi bahaya tersebut muncul persis pada penghujung lawatan Trump ke Ankara, Turki, dalam rangka menghadiri rangkaian KTT NATO di tengah memanasnya relasi diplomatik bersama Iran, sebagaimana diungkapkan oleh narasumber tersebut melalu laporan kantor berita Reuters pada hari Kamis (13/8/2026).
The Covert Air Force One Decoy Operation in Ankara
Operasi rahasia berskala luar biasa ini terpaksa digulirkan karena pihak Dinas Rahasia memandang ancaman bahaya tersebut memiliki tingkat kredibilitas tinggi serta berpotensi terjadi sewaktu-waktu guna menyamarkan pergerakan kepindahan Trump. Sumber tersebut menolak untuk mengatakan dari mana intelijen itu berasal. Namun, narasumber tadi menambahkan bahwa para petugas di lapangan hanya mempunyai durasi yang sangat terbatas guna merancang serta mematangkan seluruh skenario darurat tersebut di detik-detik akhir keberangkatan. Guna menghindari perhatian publik sewaktu bertolak dari Turki pada tanggal 8 Juli lalu, Trump beserta sejumlah orang dekatnya dilaporkan memanfaatkan kendaraan truk katering untuk menyusup secara diam-diam berpindah dari kabin utama Air Force One menuju armada militer C-32A yang berukuran jauh lebih kecil serta tampak biasa saja.
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Sementara Air Force One berangkat secara terpisah membawa para pejabat senior pemerintahan, staf Gedung Portih, dan rombongan pers, menurut sumber tersebut. According to reporting corroborated by The New York Times and local outlets such as Tribunnews, U.S. officials grew alarmed after discovering that Iranian actors knew where Trump was staying in Ankara, down to the exact hotel floor. High-ranking personnel aboard the decoy flight included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and White House communications director Steven Cheung, alongside 13 members of the media. Trump’s group inside the smaller transport included deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino, executive assistant Natalie Harp, and Oval Office operations director Walt Nauta.
President Trump Responds to the Secret Service Directive
Trump mengomentari laporan yang muncul soal penerbangan rahasianya saat meninggalkan Turki. Dia menyebut operasi tersebut dilakukan atas arahan Secret Service AS. Namun, Trump menyebut pesawat militer yang digunakannya justru jauh lebih berisiko dibanding Air Force One. “Menurut saya, pesawat yang saya tumpangi justru memiliki risiko lebih besar. Menurut saya, risikonya lebih besar karena pesawat itulah yang kemungkinan besar akan mereka incar,” kata Trump kepada wartawan pada Selasa (11/8). Laporan soal dirinya berpindah pesawat dengan truk katering telah memunculkan berbagai meme di media sosial. Trump meresponsnya dengan mengatakan bahwa dirinya hanya mengikuti arahan Secret Service, yang bertugas melindungi Presiden AS. “Ya, itu sepenuhnya keputusan Secret Service. Saya hanya mengikuti apa yang ingin mereka lakukan, jadi saya mengikuti arahan Secret Service dan militer,” ucapnya. “Sepertinya memang ada ancaman. Saya tidak terlalu banyak bertanya soal hal itu. Saya sering menerima banyak ancaman,” ujar Presiden AS tersebut.
Did you know?
The call sign “Air Force One” applies to any Air Force aircraft carrying the sitting President of the United States. During this operation, the decoy aircraft maintained the expected protocol while the actual commander-in-chief traveled via an unbranded military transport.
Understanding MANPADS Threats to Aviation
The security protocol was triggered by the perceived threat of MANPADS, or Man-Portable Air Defense Systems. These lightweight, shoulder-fired missile systems can be operated by a single soldier to target aircraft during takeoff and landing phases. Because Turkey shares a border with Iran, security planners treated the regional proximity as a critical vulnerability during the high-stakes NATO diplomatic visit. Despite criticism from commentators questioning the safety of the decoy strategy for accompanying aides and journalists, sources maintained that maintaining the ruse was vital given the deteriorating security environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Donald Trump switch planes in Turkey?
According to sources cited by Reuters, the Secret Service orchestrated the switch because intelligence indicated Air Force One was at risk of being targeted by an Iranian shoulder-fired missile during the president’s departure from Ankara.
What aircraft did Trump use instead of Air Force One?
Trump and a select group of aides boarded a smaller, less conspicuous C-32A military jet after moving away from the primary presidential aircraft via a catering truck.
Who remained aboard the Air Force One decoy flight?
The original Air Force One carried senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, alongside White House staff and 13 members of the traveling press pool.
Did the flight face any further incidents?
No. Trump successfully flew from Ankara to the United Kingdom to refuel without further incident.
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