Summary Trump's private jet, 'Trump Force One,' made an emergency landing in Billings due to a reported hydraulic leak. No reported injuries when the 33-year-old aircraft landed, andTrump boarded another plane to reach his event in Bozeman. Despite rumors of the jet heading for the scrapheap, it remains in service after a refurbishment job in 2022.
Donald Trump's private 757 jet was forced to make an emergency landing after suffering a mechanical problem. 'Trump Force One' reportedly experienced a hydraulic leak and landed safely in Billings, Montana, before the former US President boarded a different aircraft. Trump Force One makes emergency landing Trump's Boeing 757-200 diverted to Billings-Logan International Airport (BIL) on Friday ahead of his campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana.
The presidential nominee was supposed to land at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), but the diversion left him around 150 miles away in Billings. While there has been no official word on the reason for the diversion from Trump's camp, sources claim the aircraft suffered a "hydraulic leak." The aging aircraft had spent years in storage up until a couple of years ago The US Secret Service only confirmed that the aircraft diverted due to a mechanical problem, and that it was not related to a security concern.
Hydraulic leaks can be a serious issue, but the plane would land safely in Billings with no reported injuries. Trump posted a video from the aircraft upon landing, saying he had arrived at a "beautiful place," but made no mention of the emergency landing or mechanical error. After the Secret Service performed a sweep of the airport, Trump boarded another plane and flew to Bozeman - he was scheduled to speak at an event at Montana State University at 20:00 local time, but would end up arriving at around 21:30 due to his travel setback.
Trump's running mate, JD Vance, made headlines this week after landing at the same Wisconsin airport as Kamala Harris while campaigning, walking across the apron in front of Air Force Two and sharing a few remarks with reporters. A 33-year-old airframe Trump Force One is now 33 years old, and many have commented on why a billionaire of Trump's status still flies on such an old aircraft. While the airframe itself is rather dated, its interior is far from it, following an expansive refurbishment job completed in 2022.
The interior features the likes of gold-plated seatbelts and a private bedroom, while it also benefited from a replacement Rolls-Royce RB211 Turbofan engine and a fresh paint job . Prior to this, the jet had spent years in storage and was even rumored to be heading for the scrapheap. However, it is now back in active service, although this latest mechanical issue will raise some questions about its airworthiness.
Just a few months ago, the plane was involved in a ground collision in West Palm Beach - during the May 12th incident, the 757s winglet clipped an unoccupied corporate jet. The aircraft clipped another corporate jet while taxiing. Trump purchased the plane back in 2011, which replaced his Boeing 727.
During his presidency he would fly onboard Air Force One, one of two VC-25As, which were developed from Boeing 747 airframes - should he win re-election, Trump will once again attempt to change the presidential jet's livery , a move that has generated controversy..
