President Trump was supposed to be heading to Davos, Switzerland to speak with and hobnob with the world economic elite, but it’ll have to wait. Air Force One was forced to return to base following an electrical issue. The president is fine (via WSJ):
Air Force One turned around and was returning to Joint Base Andrews less than an hour after departing for Switzerland after the aircraft experienced a “minor electrical issue,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
“After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical issue. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews,” Leavitt said in a text message. “The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland.”
#BREAKING: Air Force One changes heading back to Andrews Air Force Base.
— Insider Wire (@InsiderWire) January 21, 2026
JUST IN: Air Force One flying back to Maryland due to "minor electrical issue," White House says.
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 21, 2026
Trump will land at Joint Base Andrews and take a different plane for his trip to Davos, Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/mkYJoYjNVg
🚨 BREAKING UPDATE ON AF1: pic.twitter.com/OzYRA7kGxr
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 21, 2026
BREAKING: A U.S. government motorcade was seen speeding with lights and sirens toward Joint Base Andrews following reports that Air Force One had turned around over the Atlantic.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 21, 2026
pic.twitter.com/Quo7JEDhv3
Mabinty Quarshie, who is part of the traveling pool, added, “Leavitt made a joke about the Qatari jet sounding 'much better' right now.
This will obviously delay our arrival in Zurich. We will keep you updated as best we can. We’re expected to land at Joint Base Andrews at 11 PM.
UPDATE: POTUS switched planes. They're on their way to Davos:
Per the White House pool reports, here are the administration officials traveling with the president on AF1:
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) January 21, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio⁰Chief of Staff Susie Wiles⁰James Blair⁰Beau Harrison⁰Stephen Miller⁰Robert Gabriel⁰Steven Cheung⁰Kevin Hassett⁰Karoline Leavitt…
NEW: White House press pool reports the president boarded the new jet, but reporters didn’t witness him getting off the old plane and aboard the new one.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) January 21, 2026
Per the latest pool report:
“While holding on original Air Force One, your pool saw a lot of commotion, including several…
WHEELS UP (again): The replacement Air Force One, a smaller Boeing 757, was rolling for takeoff at 12:02am ET, per the White House pool report.
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) January 21, 2026