President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the new Air Force One gifted by Qatar will be grounded for about a month to undergo a full security and systems upgrade.
The disclosure follows Trump's decision on July 10 to fly back from a NATO summit in Ankara on the older presidential jet rather than the Boeing 747-8 he had begun using on July 1. The switch drew scrutiny after The New York Times reported the new aircraft lacks missile-defense and other security systems required for presidential travel, prompting the administration to issue a subpoena to the newspaper's reporter. Sources said the aircraft does not yet meet international security standards.
The Qatari royal family donated the 14-year-old aircraft, valued at roughly $400 million, last year, with conversion costs estimated at nearly another $400 million. It is serving as a temporary Air Force One until newly built presidential jets are delivered. Two older jets have served as presidential transports since 1990.