WASHINGTON — Air Force One carrying President Donald Trump returned safely to Joint Base Andrews after the crew reported a minor electrical issue roughly an hour into a flight bound for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2026.
The White House said the decision was made out of caution, and Trump quickly transferred to a backup aircraft so the trip could continue with only a short delay, according to an Associated Press report.
Air Force One returns to Joint Base Andrews after brief power flicker
Reporters traveling with the president described a brief loss of lighting in the press cabin after takeoff before the crew notified passengers that the aircraft would turn around, CBS News reported. The jet landed without incident, and no injuries were reported.
Shortly after midnight, Trump departed again aboard a smaller Boeing 757 used for presidential travel, an Air Force C-32, which also carries the Air Force One call sign while the president is aboard, Reuters reported.
The White House did not immediately provide technical specifics beyond calling the problem minor, but officials emphasized the return was precautionary as the crew assessed the issue and coordinated the aircraft swap, ABC News reported.
Air Force One backups are routine — and the fleet is aging
Incidents involving a U.S. president’s aircraft are uncommon, but backup planning is built into every trip. The current Air Force One fleet — two modified Boeing 747-200s — has been in service for decades, and the long-running replacement program has faced repeated delays; the Air Force has pushed expected delivery of the first new aircraft into the late 2020s, according to a 2025 Reuters report.
Past presidents have also switched aircraft after mechanical issues. In 2008, then-President Barack Obama’s plane landed after a mechanical problem later traced to an emergency evacuation slide deploying inside the aircraft, Reuters reported at the time. In 2014, Obama transferred to a backup plane after a flap problem, with the White House saying the change would not affect the schedule, The Washington Post reported.
On Tuesday night, the backup plan worked as intended: Air Force One returned, Trump changed aircraft, and the Davos visit stayed on track.
