According to reports, former President Donald Trump unexpectedly chose to fly on an older VC‑25A Air Force One aircraft instead of the new VC‑25B Bridge during his trip from Turkey to the United Kingdom. The reason for the change was not officially disclosed, but speculation suggests concerns over the new plane’s protection and defense systems. The VC‑25B, built on a donated Boeing 747‑8 frame, is intended as a temporary solution until newer presidential aircraft are ready and lacks some advanced defensive capabilities of current models.
Trump announced that the new VC‑25B would be moved to RAF Mildenhall in the UK so that U.S. forces stationed there could inspect it. He then returned to the United States aboard the same new aircraft.