Secret flight kept hidden from media
US President Donald Trump secretly flew from Turkey aboard a military aircraft last month after authorities received a credible Iranian assassination threat, The Washington Post reported.
Trump had traveled to Ankara aboard a newly renovated, Qatar-donated presidential aircraft for the NATO summit.
However, officials secretly moved him to an older C-32A military jet before his departure. Meanwhile, the older Air Force One served as a decoy.
The operation reportedly began after Trump boarded the older presidential aircraft in front of cameras.
An airport catering truck then transported him to the smaller military plane without attracting attention.
The C-32A later flew Trump to Britain, where it arrived around 10:20pm local time.
Security concerns prompt extraordinary operation
Several journalists and some White House officials reportedly believed Trump remained aboard the older Air Force One.
Reporters traveling on the aircraft were instructed to keep their window shades closed during the flight.
Trump later told journalists they were “probably on a dangerous flight,” without revealing the secret operation.
The C-32A arrived in Britain minutes before the decoy aircraft. However, authorities have not explained how Trump transferred back to the older Air Force One.
He later emerged from that aircraft at RAF Mildenhall and greeted US service members before visiting the new presidential jet.
The White House defended the security measures, saying the Qatar-donated aircraft has high-level protocols to protect Trump and his staff.
Officials also cited threats against the president and said authorities use every available measure to address security risks.
A similar deception operation occurred in 2000, when President Bill Clinton used an unmarked aircraft during a visit to Pakistan.
