Accidental slide deployment delays Donald Trump's Air Force One flight to Texas

Tarmac incident at Joint Base Andrews

A flight carrying U.S. President Donald Trump was delayed on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, after an emergency evacuation slide deployed on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews near Washington. The Boeing 747-8 was preparing to transport Trump to Dallas, Texas, where he was scheduled to attend a Republican midterm convention. The inflatable slide opened on one side of the aircraft shortly before the president boarded.

Trump remained inside the Marine One helicopter for approximately 20 minutes after landing at the airfield, allowing ground crews to assess the situation. A source close to the matter stated that the slide had been accidentally deployed through human error by the Air Force, which operates the presidential fleet. An older Air Force One aircraft was also positioned nearby on the tarmac with its boarding stairs extended during the delay.

Inspection and presidential reaction

Trump exited his helicopter to speak to reporters gathered on the tarmac while technical personnel examined the deployed slide. He stated that technicians were checking the equipment and predicted that the inspection would take about 15 minutes. When asked by a reporter whether he was confident that the aircraft was safe to fly, Trump dismissed safety concerns.

“Yeah, I am, or I wouldn't be on it.”

Ground personnel deflated and removed the emergency slide several minutes after the inspection. Trump subsequently boarded the plane, and the aircraft departed for Texas.

Background of the gifted aircraft

The aircraft involved is a luxury Boeing 747-8 valued at 400 million dollars, gifted to Trump last year by the royal family of Qatar. The gift followed complaints from Trump regarding the age of the two existing Air Force One aircraft, which have been in service since 1990. The transfer drew ethical and constitutional scrutiny regarding foreign gifts presented to a sitting president.

Following modifications coordinated by the Pentagon, Trump completed his inaugural flight aboard the refurbished jet on 1 July 2026. The aircraft features an exterior paint scheme chosen directly by Trump. The plane serves as an interim transport until two newly built Boeing presidential jets are delivered in the coming years. Trump has also stated plans to retain the Qatari aircraft for his future presidential library and museum.

Security assessments and upcoming upgrades

The incident on Wednesday follows previous security evaluations involving the aircraft. In mid-July 2026, during travel from a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump switched from the Qatari plane to an older Air Force One model for a flight to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, before switching back for the return journey to Joint Base Andrews.

Reporting from The New York Times citing unnamed sources indicated that the Secret Service requested that aircraft swap because the newer Boeing 747-8 lacked specific security and anti-missile systems present on the older planes. The switch coincided with a period of heightened regional tension in which the United States carried out airstrikes against Iran and Tehran struck three Arab Gulf states. Trump previously announced that additional security upgrade work on the Qatari aircraft will begin in October 2026 and take longer than originally planned.