US military personnel accidentally activated an emergency evacuation slide on the Boeing 747-8 used as Air Force One shortly before President Donald Trump was due to fly to Dallas on Wednesday.
Trump remained aboard the Marine One helicopter for several minutes while officials inspected and reset the slide. He subsequently boarded the aircraft, saying there were no safety or security concerns. The flight landed safely in Dallas at around 17:15 Eastern Time, approximately two hours later than expected.
The aircraft was donated by Qatar’s royal family in 2025 for presidential use while Boeing completes two delayed replacement Air Force One aircraft, currently expected in 2028.
The incident comes amid continuing questions about the aircraft’s protective equipment. Officials maintain that it is safe, although previous reports indicated that it did not initially incorporate all the security systems fitted to the older presidential aircraft. Further upgrades and enhancements have therefore been planned.