Donald Trump was en route to Switzerland aboard Air Force One when it was forced to turn around. -EPA
Air Force One has landed safely at Joint Base Andrews after it was forced to turn around when its crew identified "a minor electrical issue" on the aircraft while flying US President Donald Trump to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to return was made shortly after takeoff on Tuesday night when the crew aboard Air Force One identified "a minor electrical issue" and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to turn around.
A reporter on board said the lights in the press cabin of the aircraft went out briefly after takeoff, but no explanation was offered.
Trump will board another aircraft upon his return and continue on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort town of Davos.
The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for nearly four decades. Boeing has been working on replacements, but the program has faced a series of delays.
The planes are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and anti-missile technology.
They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.
Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added into the Air Force One fleet, a move that faced great scrutiny. That plane is currently being retrofitted to meet security requirements.
Leavitt joked to reporters on Air Force One Tuesday night that a Qatari jet was sounding "much better" right now.
