President Donald Trump said he was leaving Türkiye aboard an older Air Force One aircraft rather than a recently renovated jet, an unexpected switch that renewed scrutiny of the costly, fast-tracked retrofit.
The trip to Türkiye was the first international travel for the new plane.
The switch follows months of scrutiny over the luxury jet intended to serve as a temporary replacement while Boeing struggles to deliver long-delayed next-generation Air Force One planes.
Critics questioned the cost, security and pace of the retrofit.
Trump said on Truth Social that he would use an older Air Force One plane ‘for old time’s sake’ to fly to RAF Mildenhall in Britain while the new plane stops at the same base so US service members stationed there can tour the aircraft.
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