Donald Trump was left waiting aboard Marine One after an emergency evacuation slide deployed from the door of his controversial new Air Force One, delaying his departure for the Republican Midterm Convention.
‘They were doing a check on the slide. I think it takes 15 minutes,’ Trump told reporters after finally stepping off the helicopter.
‘They were checking it before’ the flight Trump continued, adding, ‘they want to make sure everything works perfectly.’
Trump remained inside the helicopter well after it touched down, with the door of Marine One closed, according to multiple reports.
As the helicopter rolled to a stop, the older blue-and-white Air Force One was moved out of its hangar and into position a few hundred yards behind the Qatari-gifted jet, then lowered its front and rear steps.
Minutes later, the new plane had its inflatable emergency slide unfurled from the front door on the right-hand side, opposite the left-hand door the president normally uses to board.
After speaking with the press for a prolonged period as the slide was being dealt with, the president boarded the craft as the cameras were still rolling.
The White House did not immediately explain the delay.
The emergency slide of Air Force One is deployed ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip to the Republican National Midterm Convention, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., September 9
The slide’s deployment appeared to delay the president’s departure to Dallas for the GOP midterm convention he is attending on Wednesday and Thursday
Trump remained inside the helicopter well after it touched down, with the door of Marine One
This comes after growing concerns about the new aircraft, which Trump abandoned in Turkey in July on the advice of the Secret Service.
The president was secretly spirited off on the Qatari-gifted presidential jet in an airline catering truck and flown to England on a smaller plane.
This is a breaking news story that will continue to be updated.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login