[AP]
[AP]

Donald Trump concealed himself inside an airport catering cart to switch to a different military aircraft as he departed Turkey last month — a detail that only became public Tuesday, nearly a month after the operation.

According to The Washington Post, The New York Times and other US media, Trump carried out a "deception operation" in response to an Iranian assassination threat as he left Ankara on July 8 after the NATO summit.

Trump was seen boarding Air Force One in front of news cameras. On the opposite side of the aircraft, a catering truck raised its container to fuselage height, allowing Trump and his aides to transfer from Air Force One into the truck and then board a nearby C-32A military transport.

The press pool and some White House staff remained on Air Force One, believing Trump was on board. Before takeoff, they were instructed to lower their window shades. ABC News reported that the Secret Service told those on board the shades were to remain closed for the entire flight.

Catering trucks are parked at an air base as the motorcade carrying President Donald Trump arrives on the tarmac at Ankara international airport in Turkey on July 8, following the NATO summit. [AP]
Catering trucks are parked at an air base as the motorcade carrying President Donald Trump arrives on the tarmac at Ankara international airport in Turkey on July 8, following the NATO summit. [AP]

Flight records for both aircraft also differed from their actual movements. The plane carrying Trump flew toward the United Kingdom under the call sign "RCH18," while the decoy Air Force One initially appeared on radar with no call sign before switching to "AF1" mid-flight.

The C-32A carrying Trump landed at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom at around 10:20 p.m. Air Force One, with the press pool aboard, touched down a few minutes later. Trump was captured on camera descending the exterior stairs of Air Force One at around 10:56 p.m. How he transferred from the C-32A back to Air Force One was not confirmed.

The New York Times had earlier reported that intelligence indicated Iran may have been targeting Trump himself and whichever aircraft he was on, rather than a specific type of plane. The Secret Service assessed the threat as credible and recommended that Trump switch aircraft.

A similar operation took place 26 years ago. In March 2000, then-President Bill Clinton landed in Pakistan aboard a separate aircraft that trailed Air Force One, given the high security risk. The Washington Post cited a former official as saying that flying a president on an unmarked plane instead of the distinctively marked Air Force One can be an effective security measure.


dbsdn1110@heraldcorp.com