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Tengrinews.kz – U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had to transfer to a different helicopter en route to London’s airport due to a technical issue with the original aircraft, reports The Independent citing the White House.
The incident occurred while returning from Chequers, the country residence of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to Stansted Airport. The helicopter carrying the Trumps experienced a minor hydraulic problem.
For safety reasons, the pilots landed the aircraft at the nearest airfield, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Trump and Melania then switched to another helicopter and continued to the airport, causing a brief delay in their arrival at Stansted.
The White House did not provide further details on the nature of the hydraulic issue.
Trump forced to switch helicopters in London due to ‘minor hydraulic issue’ https://t.co/tm3NvtLZmL pic.twitter.com/mK8JagYKrw
— The Independent (@Independent) September 18, 2025
The President and First Lady were on a two-day state visit to the UK. On Wednesday, the royal family held a ceremonial welcome at Windsor, followed by a formal dinner. On Thursday, Trump met with the Prime Minister to sign a technology partnership agreement and held a joint press conference.
Earlier, Trump’s flight to the UK almost faced an emergency situation. While departing from Andrews Air Force Base in New York on his personal Boeing aircraft, Air Force One narrowly avoided a mid-air conflict with a Spirit Airlines passenger plane. The two planes crossed paths over the Long Island Sound, narrowly missing each other by about one minute, with the commercial plane flying roughly 2.7 kilometers below the presidential aircraft.
