President Donald Trump’s travel was halted on the runway at Joint Base Andrews after the emergency slide on Air Force One deployed unexpectedly, delaying his trip to the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Maryland.
The inflatable slide was seen coming from the right-hand side of the presidential aircraft, the opposite side to that traditionally used by the president when boarding. Photographs from the scene show the slide fully extended on the tarmac as ground crews and security personnel responded to the incident.
The aircraft involved has been the subject of repeated scrutiny since it was gifted to the United States by Qatar. The jet, valued at approximately $400 million, has faced persistent questions about its security and operational reliability since entering service for presidential travel.
The delay forced a pause in the president’s schedule as maintenance crews worked to resolve the issue before departure. The White House has not yet issued a formal statement explaining the cause of the deployment or detailing how long the delay lasted.
The incident adds to a growing list of operational concerns surrounding the presidential fleet. Air Force One is among the most heavily protected aircraft in the world, and any malfunction involving its emergency systems draws immediate attention from security officials and the public alike.
Emergency slides are designed to deploy automatically in the event of an evacuation, but accidental deployments are not unheard of and typically require the aircraft to be taken out of service temporarily for inspection. The right-side deployment is notable because boarding procedures for the president usually take place on the left side of the aircraft, meaning the slide activated on the side not in active use at the time.
The Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas was scheduled to feature remarks from the president, and organisers had prepared for his arrival ahead of the event. It remains unclear whether the delay affected the timing of his address or altered the convention schedule.
The presidential aircraft has been a recurring topic of political discussion, with critics pointing to its cost and the circumstances of its acquisition. The Qatari gift has been defended by administration officials as a necessary upgrade to the aging fleet, but the latest malfunction is likely to intensify questions about the jet’s readiness and safety standards.
Joint Base Andrews, located in Maryland, serves as the primary departure point for presidential travel and is equipped to handle the extensive logistics required for Air Force One operations. The base has hosted numerous presidential departures without incident, making the slide deployment a rare disruption to standard procedures.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident, and the president was not on board the aircraft when the slide deployed. The delay was resolved in time for the trip to proceed, though the exact duration of the halt has not been disclosed.