Presidential Aircraft & Military Procurement

A minor electrical issue about 45 minutes after takeoff for Davos — during which cabin lights went out and the plane returned to Joint Base Andrews — prompted White House spokespeople to say the incident underscored the need for a newer aircraft and even quip that a Qatar‑donated 747 "sounds much better." The Air Force says it remains committed to expediting delivery of the Qatar gift no later than summer 2026 amid bipartisan criticism of the May 2025 acceptance on espionage and constitutional grounds, while President Trump and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg have publicly pressed for faster replacement of the roughly 40‑year‑old jet.