Trump's Qatari 747 may need fighter escorts to serve as Air Force One [View all]
Source: Reuters
Trump's Qatari 747 may need fighter escorts to serve as Air Force One
By Mike Stone, David Shepardson and Tim Hepher
May 15, 20257:18 AM EDTUpdated 43 min ago
The motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump is parked next to a 12-year old Qatari-owned Boeing 747-8 that Trump was touring in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 15, 2025.
Summary
• Plane could be restricted to flying inside US unless significant upgrades made, experts say
• Trump could waive specific safety requirements, if he chooses
• Trump has dismissed criticism of his plan to receive and use the plane
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) - A Boeing 747 jet offered to President Donald Trump by Qatar as a temporary flying White House might need fighter jet escorts and could be restricted to flying inside the U.S. unless significant costly security upgrades were made, aviation experts and industry sources said.
Even if numerous improvements to the plane's communications and defenses are made over the coming months once any deal is completed, the military escort and domestic restriction could remain in place, the experts and sources said.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/trumps-qatari-747-may-need-fighter-escorts-serve-air-force-one-2025-05-15/
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