Washington: President Donald Trump’s trip to Texas for a major Republican Party gathering was briefly delayed on Wednesday after an emergency inflatable slide unexpectedly deployed from the new Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump had arrived at the military base aboard Marine One ahead of his scheduled flight to Dallas. However, he remained on the helicopter for roughly 15 to 20 minutes while U.S. Air Force personnel dealt with the deployed slide.
Emergency slide deploys before takeoff
The inflatable evacuation slide was seen extending from an exit on the front-right side of the Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The exit is on the opposite side from the door normally used by the president when boarding.
The slide was eventually deflated, detached and removed by Air Force personnel. The aircraft then departed for Dallas without further reported problems.
Initial reports differed over exactly what caused the slide to deploy. Trump told reporters that the crew was checking the emergency system to make sure everything was functioning properly. Later reports citing people familiar with the incident said the slide had been accidentally triggered by military personnel.
Trump says he was confident in the aircraft
Trump appeared unconcerned about the incident and said he was satisfied that the aircraft was safe to fly.
Asked whether he was confident in the plane’s safety, Trump indicated that he would not have boarded it if he believed there was a serious problem.
The aircraft subsequently completed the flight to Dallas, allowing Trump to attend the Republican midterm convention as planned.
Qatar-gifted presidential aircraft
The incident involved the Boeing 747-8 aircraft provided to the United States by Qatar and subsequently refurbished for presidential use. The aircraft has attracted considerable attention because of its unusual history and the political debate surrounding the Qatari gift.
Trump began using the aircraft in July, while additional security upgrades are planned. Reuters reported that the aircraft is scheduled to be taken out of service in October for a period of upgrades.
The aircraft was refurbished and given a red, white, blue and gold exterior, replacing the familiar blue-and-white appearance associated with the traditional Air Force One fleet.
Old Air Force One briefly moved into position
As the incident unfolded, the older blue-and-white presidential aircraft was also seen moving onto the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.
The presence of the older aircraft raised the possibility that Trump might have to use it for the Texas trip. However, the newly refurbished aircraft was cleared to fly after the emergency slide was dealt with.
Trump continues to Dallas GOP gathering
Despite the unusual delay, Trump proceeded with his planned trip to Dallas, where he was scheduled to address Republicans at their midterm convention.
The brief Air Force One mishap therefore caused only a short disruption to the president’s schedule. The aircraft ultimately took off safely, and Trump arrived in Texas for the political event.
The episode nevertheless drew fresh attention to the unusual presidential aircraft and the extensive scrutiny surrounding its operation and ongoing security upgrades.
