Event
US President Donald Trump confirmed he secretly switched aircraft after leaving a Nato summit in Turkey, citing a credible Iranian missile threat. Footage showed Trump boarding the decoy Air Force One before being smuggled via a catering truck to a military C-32A jet. Officials stated the US had detected a threat to fire a missile at the plane, though Trump later claimed the replacement aircraft was at greater risk. Journalists and cabinet members remained on the decoy jet, which was instructed to keep window shades down during the flight.
2 published stories · security · source reliability 33%
Officials detected threat to fire missile at plane, but Trump later argued the replacement aircraft was at greater risk, raising questions over security protocols for media and cabinet members left on the decoy jet.
Background
US President Donald Trump confirmed he secretly switched aircraft after departing the NATO summit in Turkey, citing credible intelligence regarding an Iranian missile threat. Footage captured Trump boarding a decoy Air Force One before being transported via a catering truck to a military C-32A jet. While officials stated the US detected a threat to fire a missile at the plane, Trump later claimed the replacement aircraft was at greater risk. Journalists and cabinet members remained on the decoy jet, which was instructed to keep window shades down during the flight. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boarded the C-32A separately to maintain the appearance of normal operations. The incident has raised questions about security protocols and the treatment of the media pool, with the Committee to Protect Journalists noting the administration's responsibility to inform journalists of credible threats.
US President Donald Trump confirmed he secretly switched aircraft after departing the NATO summit in Turkey, citing credible intelligence regarding an Iranian missile threat. Footage captured Trump boarding a decoy Air Force One before being transported via a catering truck to a
Fact cards
Key entities: Donald Trump, Iran, Nato, Turkey, Air Force One, C-32A, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio.
BBC World | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c980r4wpl9lo | published 2026-08-12T03:44:55.000Z | primary source | BBC World | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2g90vvy62o | published 2026-08-11T09:58:45.000Z | primary source
2026-08-12 (approx): US intelligence receives information regarding a person near the NATO summit in Ankara with a shoulder-fired missile. 2026-08-12 (approx): Trump boards the decoy Air Force One 747 jet as part of a security ruse. 2026-08-12 (approx): Trump is smuggled via a ca
Timeline
US intelligence receives information regarding a person near the NATO summit in Ankara with a shoulder-fired missile.
Trump boards the decoy Air Force One 747 jet as part of a security ruse.
Trump is smuggled via a catering truck to a military C-32A jet; Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth boards separately using external stairs.
The decoy jet departs with journalists and cabinet members, instructed to keep window shades down.
Trump flies to the UK en route to the US, reboarding the legacy Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall.
BBC World publishes primary report on the secret plane swap.