Secret evacuation of Trump from Ankara: how the MANPADS threat foiled the flight on 'Air Force One'

In August 2026, the world was shaken by news of a secret operation to transfer US President Donald Trump to an alternative airliner. The incident occurred immediately after the conclusion of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. It turned out that the decision to change the aircraft was made at the last minute due to intelligence reports of an assassination attempt. The threat came from Iranian intelligence services, which, according to US intelligence, planned to use man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) to attack the presidential aircraft.

"Sufficiently specific" threat and route change

According to reports, information reached US security services about intentions to shoot down the presidential aircraft upon departure from Turkey. The details of the threat were assessed as "sufficiently specific," which forced officials to abandon the use of both the old and the new presidential airliners (including the aircraft known as "Qatari"). Intelligence believed that Iran had precise information about the movement schedule of the American delegation, making a standard departure deadly.

Special operation: transfer via a food delivery van

To implement the plan to save the president, a covert special operation was carried out. Donald Trump, accompanied by a group of trusted aides, secretly left the service area of the official aircraft. According to journalists, the transfer to a third, less conspicuous plane was carried out using an ordinary van used for food delivery. This method allowed them to avoid the attention of the press and potential observers who might have been tracking the delegation's movements.

Who flew with Trump and who stayed on board

During the operation, the composition of the delegation was split. Along with the president, key figures from his inner circle moved to the alternative aircraft: Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Oval Office Operations Director Walt Naut, and aide Natalie Harp. On the official presidential aircraft, which was scheduled to depart as planned, remained Secretary of State Mark Rubir, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. This division of forces became part of the security protocol to minimize risks.

Confirmation of facts by the president himself

Initially, information about the transfer was classified, but later Donald Trump personally confirmed the incident. According to him, the decision to change the plane was initiated by the Secret Service, which assessed the situation as critical. The President noted that the threat was real and that the actions of the intelligence services prevented a potential tragedy. This event became one of the most resonant security incidents in the history of American diplomacy in 2026.