Air Force One was forced to turn back to Maryland late Tuesday night after encountering what the White House described as a 'minor electrical issue,' abruptly interrupting President Trump’s flight to Switzerland and raising immediate questions about what went wrong in the air.
The problem was detected by the flight crew shortly after takeoff en route to Davos, where Trump is scheduled to headline the World Economic Forum on Wednesday with a high-profile keynote address before European leaders.
President Trump steps aboard Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, beginning his highly anticipated trip to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. Getty Images
Trump’s aircraft abruptly reversed course just south of Long Island, cutting the overseas journey short moments after it began. ADSB Exchange
Air Force One is set to land at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where President Trump will transfer to a different aircraft, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The unexpected detour will push back Trump’s arrival in Zurich, the press secretary added, further delaying his closely watched overseas trip.
Leavitt also quipped to reporters late Tuesday that hopping aboard a Qatari jet sounded “much better” at the moment, injecting a touch of humor into an otherwise tense travel disruption.
Trump was gifted a lavish $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet by Qatar’s royal family in May, a headline-grabbing gesture meant to eventually replace Air Force One — though the aircraft is still undergoing extensive security retrofitting before it can be used.
Before Trump even touched down in the city, angry demonstrators in Zurich set U.S. flags ablaze and vandalized American businesses Monday night, protesting his controversial attempt to purchase Greenland.
Air Force One touched back down at Joint Base Andrews on January 20, 2026, ending a turbulent flight that cut short President Trump’s journey to Switzerland. Getty Images
Passengers disembark from Air Force One onto the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on January 20, 2026, following the plane’s unexpected return. Getty Images
Trump has repeatedly signaled his desire to seize control of Greenland, fueling a diplomatic firestorm and heightening tensions between the U.S. and its European allies.
The president has left the door open for U.S. military action, even warning that America could consider leaving NATO if blocked from asserting control over the autonomous Danish territory.
The White House previously said the president’s speech at the forum will “emphasize that the United States and Europe must leave behind economic stagnation and the policies that caused it.”
