Air Force One Slide Deploys Unexpectedly During Trump's Arrival

Donald Trump stood on the tarmac, waiting inside Marine One after an emergency evacuation slide unexpectedly popped out of the door of his brand new Air Force One. The malfunction delayed his exit for the Republican National Midterm Convention. When he finally stepped off the helicopter to address reporters, he explained the situation calmly. 'So they're checking the slide over here, and I think it's going to take 15 minutes,' Trump said. He added that the team was performing a check on the emergency equipment because they want to make sure everything works perfectly.

Reports indicate the President remained inside the helicopter with its door closed for roughly 20 minutes after landing. Meanwhile, the older blue-and-white Air Force One taxiing out of its hangar positioned itself hundreds of yards behind the new Qatari-gifted jet. The modern aircraft then lowered its steps. Minutes later, the inflatable emergency slide unfurled from the front right-hand door. This is opposite the left-hand side where he usually boards. Pressed on whether the plane was safe to fly, Trump replied simply: 'Yeah, I am, or I wouldn't be on it.'

The crew eventually deflated the slide and removed it from the new jet. The incident seemed to hold up the President's departure schedule for his trip to Dallas. He stayed inside the aircraft well after touchdown while speaking with the press for a long stretch as the slide was being dealt with. Eventually, he boarded the plane while cameras still rolled. The White House did not immediately explain the delay.

This event follows growing worries about the new aircraft. Trump abandoned the jet in Turkey back in July on Secret Service advice. He secretly sneaked off that Qatari-gifted presidential jet using an airline catering truck and flew to England on a smaller plane instead. Reports from that time claimed the new jet lacked some defensive capabilities found on typical Air Force One planes. The White House pushed back against those claims, stating he left so US soldiers in England could tour the aircraft.

The administration officially received the plane on July 1 after accepting it as a gift last year. An accelerated effort began to retrofit the jet to presidential standards, including adding defensive features and more. Shortly after Trump returned from Turkey, officials announced upgrades were underway. Now, with Air Force One taking off just after 3pm local time, the schedule for the rest of the evening may face further adjustments. Trump is set to deliver remarks at the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas at 8:15pm local time. The emergency slide deployed from the same side of the plane involved during his sudden exit in Turkey.