US President Donald Trump was reportedly secretly transferred from Turkey to Britain aboard a smaller military aircraft last month following an alleged assassination threat from Iran.
The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that the operation was carried out during Trump’s visit to Ankara for a NATO summit.
Trump initially boarded the former Air Force One in full view of television cameras.
However, he was reportedly moved minutes later to another aircraft using an airport catering truck to conceal the transfer.
A US official told The Washington Post that the operation was prompted by a credible threat linked to Iran.
The New York Times also reported that Trump’s actual location was concealed from journalists and some White House staff members travelling with him.
The White House had previously stated that Trump left Turkey on July 8 aboard the former Air Force One.
Trump had also announced that he would use the older Boeing 747 instead of the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar.
The Qatar-donated aircraft had flown Trump to Turkey and was making its first international trip.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump said he would use the older aircraft “for old time’s sake” to travel to RAF Mildenhall in Britain.
The newer aircraft was also scheduled to stop at the British base so US military personnel could inspect it.
According to The Washington Post, however, Trump was secretly transported aboard a C-32A before being transferred back to the older Air Force One shortly before departure.
The operation reportedly involved Trump entering the presidential aircraft through a different entrance before appearing publicly on its stairs.
Members of the travelling press pool were also reportedly instructed to keep the window shades in their section closed during the flight.
Some White House officials were allegedly unaware that Trump was not aboard the aircraft they believed he was travelling in.
When reporters later asked Trump why they had been told to keep the shades closed, he jokingly said they were “probably on a dangerous flight.”
“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump added.
The C-32A carrying Trump reportedly landed in Britain at about 10:20pm local time.
The older Air Force One and members of the media arrived separately a few minutes later.
Trump eventually emerged from the older presidential aircraft at about 10:56pm, gave reporters a peace sign and greeted US military personnel.
He then proceeded towards the Qatar-donated aircraft.
The reported security manoeuvre has been compared with a similar operation involving former US President Bill Clinton in 2000.
Clinton reportedly used an unmarked executive aircraft to enter Pakistan while Air Force One served as a decoy.
White House Communications Director Steve Cheung defended the security measures.
He said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been fitted with high-level security protocols to protect Trump and members of his staff.
Cheung added that several enemies of the United States had targeted Trump and that the administration was using “every tool at our disposal” to address security threats.
