New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump briefly faced a travel disruption late Tuesday after Air Force One returned to a US military base due to a technical concern, according to the White House.
The presidential aircraft turned back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland shortly after departing for Switzerland. Officials described the issue as a “minor electrical problem” and stressed that the decision was taken purely as a precaution.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the aircraft landed safely a little over an hour after takeoff. Journalists travelling with the president reported that cabin lights briefly went out soon after departure, prompting the return, as noted by news agency AFP.
There was no impact on the president’s schedule. Trump and his delegation switched to another aircraft and resumed their journey to Davos, where he is set to attend the World Economic Forum. He is expected to arrive on Wednesday and depart the following day.
Ahead of the trip, Trump confirmed that he plans to hold discussions in Davos with what he described as “various parties,” including talks related to Greenland. Posting on his Truth Social platform, the president reiterated his long-standing view that Greenland is strategically vital for global and national security.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States needs Greenland due to increased activity by Russian and Chinese vessels in the Arctic region. “We need it for national security,” he told reporters in Florida earlier, adding that the issue would be part of conversations in Davos.
Greenland’s leadership and European officials, however, have firmly rejected the idea. During a recent debate at the European Parliament, Danish lawmaker Anders Vistisen bluntly dismissed Trump’s remarks, stating that Greenland is an integral part of the Danish kingdom and “not for sale.”
Despite the brief technical scare, White House officials emphasised that the incident highlighted standard safety protocols and did not pose any danger to the president or those onboard.
