Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Trump Departs on Qatar-Gifted Air Force One After Slide Deployment
An emergency slide came out of the airplane Donald Trump was preparing to use.
The slide is meant to help people leave the plane safely during an emergency.
Trump waited in his helicopter for about 20 minutes while workers dealt with it.
Trump said workers were checking the slide to make sure it worked properly.
Sources told news agencies that military personnel accidentally set it off.
The slide was removed, and Trump flew from Washington to Dallas.
He said he would not fly on the plane if he thought it was unsafe.
The plane was given to the United States by Qatar and is worth several hundred million dollars.
More security work is planned for the aircraft in October.
An emergency evacuation slide deployed shortly before Donald Trump was due to board the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8.
The incident briefly delayed Trump’s Wednesday departure from Joint Base Andrews near Washington to Dallas.
Trump said personnel were checking the slide to ensure it worked properly and said he believed the aircraft was safe.
Sources told Reuters and AFP that military personnel accidentally triggered the slide, while the Air Force did not immediately comment.
The aircraft is scheduled for about 60 days of unspecified security upgrades beginning in October, amid broader questions about the foreign gift.
- Who
- U.S. President Donald Trump, military personnel, inspectors, and workers handling the aircraft.
- What
- An emergency inflatable evacuation slide deployed on Qatar-gifted Air Force One, briefly delaying Trump’s departure.
- When
- Wednesday, before Trump’s flight to Dallas; planned security upgrades are scheduled to begin in October and last about 60 days.
- Where
- Joint Base Andrews near Washington, before the aircraft flew to Dallas, Texas.
- Why
- Trump said the slide was being checked to ensure it worked properly, while sources said military personnel accidentally triggered it.
Safety and Accountability Concerns
Checks and Continued Presidential Use
Cause of the deployment
Safety and Accountability Concerns
Reuters and AFP sources said military personnel accidentally triggered the emergency slide, and the Air Force had not immediately clarified the incident.
Checks and Continued Presidential Use
Trump characterized the event as personnel checking the slide to make sure it worked properly.
Aircraft safety
Safety and Accountability Concerns
The deployment, recurring questions about the jet, and planned security upgrades prompted continued scrutiny of the aircraft’s safety.
Checks and Continued Presidential Use
Trump said he was sure the plane was safe, adding that he would not fly on it if he believed otherwise.
Foreign gift
Safety and Accountability Concerns
The aircraft’s value and origin have raised ethical and constitutional questions about gifts from foreign governments, as well as questions about foreign-provided military equipment.
Checks and Continued Presidential Use
Trump accepted and continued using the aircraft, which is intended to serve until Boeing delivers two new aircraft; he has said he wants to preserve it for a future presidential museum.
- Aircraft
- A Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar and being used as a presidential aircraft.
- Incident
- An emergency inflatable evacuation slide deployed and was later removed.
- Delay
- Trump waited on his helicopter for about 20 minutes; he said the check would take about 15 minutes.
- Aircraft safety
- Trump said he was confident the plane was safe to fly.
- Emergency equipment
- The Boeing 747-8 typically has 12 emergency inflatable evacuation slides designed for evacuations from about 30 feet.
- Planned upgrades
- Unspecified security upgrades are scheduled to begin in October and take about 60 days.
- Gift value
- The aircraft was described as being worth several hundred million dollars.
Sources
Trump departs DC on Qatar-gifted Air Force One after emergency slide deploys
Emergency Slide Deploys On Trump's Qatari-Gifted Air Force One
First Turkey ‘secret’ switch, now ‘accidental’ slide deployment: What happened at Trump's Qatari Air Force One