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New Air Force One plane, a $400 million jet gifted by Qatar, unveiled by military
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Air Force unveiled the Boeing 747-8 as the new Air Force One, a $400 million luxury plane gifted by the Qatari government and now stationed at Joint Base Andrews.
- The aircraft will undergo commissioning flights before entering active service to transport the president, featuring advanced security technologies and minimal interior changes to maintain operational readiness.
- Training on the new 747-8 model began last year with leased aircraft and a full interior mock-up to prepare pilots and maintenance crews ahead of the plane's arrival.
- President Trump defended accepting the gifted plane, dismissing concerns about conflicts of interest or security risks, and stated the Qatari jet will be used until a new Boeing fleet arrives in 2028.
- Older presidential planes will be reassigned to the active executive airlift fleet for use by senior government officials.
