United States Secret Service agents covertly transferred President Donald Trump from Air Force One to a smaller government jet in Ankara last month after intelligence agencies assessed a credible and imminent missile threat against the presidential aircraft, according to reports by Reuters and Kontan. The high-stakes security maneuver unfolded on July 8 during the final hours of Trump’s visit to Turkey for the NATO summit, occurring amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Intel Assessment Flags Heat-Seeking Missile Risk at Ankara Airport
Intelligence officials from the United States and Turkey gathered information indicating an active plan or intent to target Air Force One with a surface-to-air missile, according to reporting cited by CBS News and Sindonews. Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, noted to Reuters and Kontan that the identified threat likely involved advanced heat-seeking technology rather than radar-guided systems. Because heat-seeking weapons like the Russian-made 9K333 Verba or Iran’s SA-67 launcher do not emit easily detectable radio waves, planners faced a severe tactical blind spot. Officials had minimal prep time to formulate an emergency response on the ground in Ankara.
Catering Truck Decoy and Split Fleets
To evade potential surveillance and attacks during departure, Secret Service operatives executed an unorthodox op. Trump and a small group of aides—including Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Executive Assistant Natalie Harp, and Oval Office Operations Director Walt Nauta—used a catering truck to slip away unnoticed from the larger blue-and-white Boeing 747. They boarded a smaller, inconspicuous C-32A government jet, as detailed by Reuters and Kontan. Meanwhile, the primary Air Force One aircraft departed separately, carrying senior administration figures such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, alongside 13 traveling journalists.
Trump Questions Aircraft Vulnerability Post-Flight
Trump later confirmed to reporters that he switched planes under direct orders from the Secret Service, though he questioned the logic of the swap. “I actually think the plane that I was on had greater risk,” Trump told journalists without providing evidence, as reported by Reuters. “According to my opinion, the risks were greater because that’s the plane that they probably would have targeted.” After the covert transfer, Trump’s smaller aircraft flew to the United Kingdom for refueling before completing the journey without further incident. Turkish authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the thwarted missile plot.
Did you know? While U.S. presidents previously also had traveled secretly when visiting war zones or high-risk areas, such trips typically still involved prior notice to journalists covering the president.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Donald Trump switch planes in Turkey?
Secret Service agents moved Trump from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A jet after intelligence agencies flagged a credible, imminent threat of a surface-to-air missile attack during his NATO summit visit.
Who remained on Air Force One during the decoy operation?
Air Force One departed separately with officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House staff, and a traveling press pool of 13 reporters.
What kind of missiles threatened the flight?
Aviation analysts like Douglas Birkey indicated the threat likely involved heat-seeking missiles, which track engine exhaust and are harder to detect than radar-guided weapons.
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