Trump was on his way to face down European leaders over Greenland.
Then the lights went out and Air Force One turned around.
And what happened next left Trump with a two-hour headache he didn't need.
Air Force One forced to return 45 minutes into flight to Switzerland
Air Force One took off from Joint Base Andrews Tuesday night carrying President Trump to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Reporters aboard the Boeing 747 watched the cabin lights briefly flicker out after takeoff.
The crew identified what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called "a minor electrical issue" and made the call to turn around.
The plane landed back at Joint Base Andrews at 11:07 p.m. after 45 minutes in the air on what should have been a 7.5 hour flight.
Trump and his team boarded a smaller Boeing 757 just after midnight and finally departed for Switzerland more than two hours behind schedule.
Trump arrived in Switzerland to take on NATO allies over Greenland
The electrical problem couldn't have come at a worse time.
Trump was heading to Davos to deliver what he called "phenomenal news" from America while bringing the largest U.S. delegation in World Economic Forum history.
His delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner.
Trump planned to meet with world leaders and sign the charter for his controversial Board of Peace, originally designed to oversee Gaza reconstruction but now expanding in ways that worry critics it could rival the United Nations.
The trip came as Trump escalated his push to acquire Greenland, threatening 10% tariffs on eight NATO countries starting February 1 if they don't back off their opposition.
Denmark and several European allies had just sent troops to Greenland in response to Trump's increasingly aggressive rhetoric about taking control of the Danish territory.
Trump told reporters before leaving that he had "a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland" and thought "things are going to work out pretty well."
Pattern of aircraft problems involving Trump Cabinet members raises questions
Mechanical problems with government planes carrying senior officials have become alarmingly frequent under the Trump Administration.
In February 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's C-32 aircraft developed a cracked windshield about 90 minutes into a flight to the Munich Security Conference, forcing the plane to return to Joint Base Andrews.
Last October, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plane made an emergency landing at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom after the windshield cracked over the Atlantic Ocean south of Ireland.
The plane descended to 10,000 feet and broadcast an emergency signal before landing safely.
Leavitt joked aboard Air Force One that "a Qatari jet sounded much better at the moment" while waiting to board the replacement aircraft.
The incidents mirror problems from previous administrations but seem to be happening with greater frequency.
In 2012, Air Force Two carrying then-Vice President Joe Biden was struck by birds in California but landed safely.
Obama had to switch planes in 2014 due to a minor mechanical issue.
Earlier incidents were even more dramatic, including Nixon's Air Force One taking evasive action against Syrian MiGs in 1974 when the fighters showed up unannounced as escorts.
The electrical problem Tuesday night delayed Trump's arrival in Switzerland where European leaders were already gathering to discuss his Greenland demands.
Trump arrived safely in Zurich Wednesday morning and delivered his scheduled address to the forum, but the two-hour delay complicated an already tense diplomatic situation.
Sources:
- Catherine Lucey and Hadriana Lowenkron, "Air Force One Electrical Issue Delays Trump's Davos Arrival," Bloomberg, January 21, 2026.
- "Air Force One turns around shortly after takeoff for Trump's trip to Switzerland," Fox News, January 21, 2026.
- Chris Gordon, "Hegseth's Air Force Jet Diverts for Emergency Landing," Air & Space Forces Magazine, October 21, 2025.
- "Trump's plane lands safely after 'minor electrical issue,' Davos trip to continue," CNBC, January 21, 2026.
- "Air Force One Facts That Show It's More Than Just An Airplane," War History Online, July 20, 2022.
