During President Donald Trump’s U.K. state visit, his helicopter, Marine One, made an emergency landing due to an ageing aircraft that was slated for replacement.
However, delays in deploying a new fleet of presidential helicopters under the Biden administration mean that Trump and his team will have to continue using the old versions until at least next year.
While departing England, the president’s aircraft encountered ‘a hydraulic issue’ en route to Stansted Airport from Prime Minister’s Chequers estate.
Officials said the aircraft put down at Luton Airport ‘out of an abundance of caution,’ and emergency vehicles and armed police swarmed the tarmac.
Trump and First Lady Melania switched to a ‘support’ helicopter to proceed with their journey and link up with Air Force One at Stansted.
No one was injured in the drama and the President arrived at the airport 20 minutes behind schedule.
This incident highlighted that the helicopters transporting the U.S. president and his family should have already been phased out of service.
President Donald Trump’s helicopters, known as Marine One and Marine Two, are pictured at Luton Airport following an emergency landing with Trump aboard.
Mr Trump ‘s helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing with the US President and Melania on board. He is pictured at Stansted Airport on Thursday
Trump was flying on a Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King, the type which has been the presidential helicopter since the Gerald Ford administration in 1975, although a newer model was added in 1989.
The fleet of presidential helicopters are known as ‘white tops’ due to their distinct livery and whichever one the president is on has the call sign ‘Marine One.’
Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawks, which entered service in the 1980s, are also used as ‘Marine One’ in difficult locations like Afghanistan.
An initial bid to replace both aircraft was scrapped in 2009 amid soaring costs.
Then, in 2014, the Pentagon launched a $5 billion Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program and Sikorsky, which was later acquired by Lockheed Martin, was tasked with developing the VH-92A Patriot helicopter to take over.
However, in an initial test in 2018 it scorched the White house lawn with its General Electric CT7-8A engines s
According to a Government Accountability Office report ‘the VH-92A’s exhaust damaged a landing zone.’
The report added that ‘the lawn was exposed to the helicopter’s exhaust for a longer period than it would be under normal operating conditions.’
One of Mr Trump’s helicopters is seen at Luton Airport following the incident
Donald Trump arrives by helicopter at Chequers, the country home of the British prime minister, on September 18
The new helicopters were supposed to come into service by 2020 but that ended up being delayed by three years.
All the current Sea Kings and White Hawks were supposed to have been replaced by 2023.
According to the Pentagon ‘both legacy aircraft have exceeded their original twenty-year service life expectations.’
That was made possible ‘due to a comprehensive three-year overhaul cycle.’
In August 2024 the final one of 23 Patriots built for presidential use was delivered and President Biden flew in one for the first time that month.
However, they are being phased in over time, with some of the older Sea Kings still flying.
There are believed to be 10 still in service with Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) which ferries the President, Vice President, senior officials and support staff.
The squadron is known as the ‘Nighthawks’ and is based at Quantico, Virginia.
According to the Pentagon’s 2025 Marine Aviation Plan HMX-1 is currently conducting an ‘in-stride transition’ of helicopters.
It says the Sea Kings and White Hawks have been through a ‘Service Life Extension Program’ and ‘have sufficient hours to support the mission through full transition to the VH-92A.’
‘VH-3D aircraft are anticipated to continue serving through 2026,’ the plan adds. ‘No major upgrades are currently planned.
‘However, minor communications upgrades may be necessary to ensure the remaining legacy aircraft are operationally relevant until the squadron has completely transitioned.’
Back in September 2021 a report by the Pentagon’s testing unit warned that the new Patriot helicopters were not yet ‘operationally suitable.’
They were ‘operationally effective’ for routine flights like taking the president from the White House to Joint Base Andrews to board Air Force One, but not emergency flights.
Several police cars are seen at Luton Airport after Mr Trump’s helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing
A helicopter believed to be carrying US President Donald Trump is seen departing from Windsor Castle hours before the emergency landing
Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump walk across the tarmac from the Marine One helicopter toward Air Force One at Stansted Airport
At that time the problem of burning the White House lawn remained an issue.
‘Engine exhaust and fluid discharge cause landing zone damage limitations, limiting the number of available landing zones,’ the report said.
It suggested that Marine pilots and mechanics ‘continue to reduce effects of engine exhaust and fluid discharges.’
The report also said the aircraft suffered from ‘often delayed critical communications.’
In addition ‘cabin interior flaws, frequent maintenance inspections, and rear air-stair door components contributed to low aircraft availability.’
Meanwhile, problems for the president while in the air have continued.
The incident in the U.K. was not the first time President Trump has had to abandon his helicopter.
In April, he had to do so on his way to his Florida golf club.
He had arrived at Miami International Airport on Air Force One and boarded Marine One.
The president was then seen in his bright red MAGA hat and a suit walking across the tarmac from one helicopter to another.
Despite the glitch, the president arrived safely at his Doral club following a brief delay.
The abandoned helicopter never took off and stopped further down the runway after officials noticed a flat tire.
It followed a previous incident in November 2023 when the media covering a visit by President Joe Biden to Minnesota had to switch aircraft.
The press were in a support helicopter when they heard a bang and smelled smoke.
It landed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and they were moved to another aircraft.
