Occasionally, incidents are reported regarding emergency slides activating on commercial planes, frequently because someone neglected to disarm the emergency exit. However, an interesting development took place recently during President Trump’s flight from Joint Base Andrews. His departure on the newly gifted Qatari Air Force One was postponed due to an emergency slide activation. Notably, Trump asserted it wasn’t an error but a standard procedure.
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Trump was set to depart from Joint Base Andrews on the “new” Boeing 747-8 Air Force One. Yet, upon his arrival, he spent around 20 minutes in Marine One before boarding the aircraft. The delay was attributed to the activation of a forward right emergency slide on the Boeing 747-8, which many believed was an error, perhaps due to someone forgetting to disarm the exit.
Trump, however, refuted these claims, informing the media that it was a standard procedure, remarking, “they’re checking the slide over here, and I think it’s going to take 15 minutes.” When questioned about any security issues, he reassured that it was simply a precautionary measure to verify that everything functioned correctly.
While inspections of emergency slides are a component of extensive maintenance protocols, it is atypical for such evaluations to take place just prior to a presidential flight. The activation prompted inquiries into whether it was genuinely a routine procedure or merely an oversight. Furthermore, the practicality of reinstating the slide within 15 minutes was brought into question, as it usually takes longer to adequately secure.
This incident underscores the necessity for transparency and honesty in dealing with such situations. While Trump insisted it was deliberate, admitting to a mistake wouldn’t have raised any safety issues. The occurrence serves as a reminder that even aboard Air Force One, unforeseen events can happen, necessitating careful adherence to safety measures.