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Air Force One Returns on Electrical Issue Before Davos Trip

Published 21 January 2026

Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, returned to Joint Base Andrews near Washington on Tuesday night after the crew identified a minor electrical issue shortly after takeoff en route to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The plane landed safely, and Trump planned to board a replacement aircraft to continue the journey, according to White House officials.

The incident occurred less than an hour after departure from the Maryland base, where Trump had boarded the Boeing 747-200, known as the VC-25A, for the annual gathering of global leaders. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters aboard the aircraft that the issue was minor and presented no risk to the president's safety. "Out of an abundance of caution," she said, the crew decided to return to Andrews. Reporters noted that the lights in the press cabin briefly flickered after takeoff, though no further details on the electrical problem were provided.

Trump's trip to the Swiss Alpine resort marks his first appearance at the forum in six years. He was scheduled to deliver an address on Wednesday afternoon local time, focusing on international trade and security issues. The delay could...

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