Overview
- Reporters on board said the press-cabin lights briefly went out shortly after takeoff before the crew decided to turn back.
- Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft reverse course near Montauk before landing safely at Joint Base Andrews around 11 p.m.
- The president departed again shortly after midnight on an Air Force C-32 and arrived in Switzerland about two hours behind schedule.
- The incident renewed focus on the decades-old VC-25A 747s and delays to Boeing’s VC-25B replacements, while a Qatari 747-8 remains under security retrofit.
- Officials reported no injuries or emergency, emphasizing standard redundancy and safety protocols for presidential travel.