Video on The Washington Post’s Report About Trump’s Secret Flight
An Iranian assassination threat against President Trump prompted an operation last month in which he secretly flew from Turkey aboard an Air Force C-32A while the White House said he was on the former Air Force One.
After Trump boarded the legacy blue-and-white Boeing 747 in view of cameras in Ankara, he was secretly moved minutes later using an airport catering truck. The 747 then served as a decoy, carrying journalists and some White House staff who were unaware of the operation. Trump’s actual location was concealed from the public and many senior officials for hours after intelligence officials flagged a specific threat against him or his aircraft.
The C-32A, which had been sent to Turkey alongside both Boeing 747s, flew Trump to Britain under the call sign “Reach 18” or “RCH18,” with flight tracking reportedly disabled. Trump later appeared aboard the legacy Air Force One before transferring to the newer Qatari 747-8 for the flight to Washington.
