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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the incident, stating that the helicopter landed at a “local airfield” out of “an abundance of caution.”
Marine One travels with a group of identical helicopters acting as decoys to obscure which aircraft carries the president (AFP)
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump concluded their official visit to the United Kingdom on Thursday, wrapping up a largely smooth trip with the exception of a minor in-flight incident involving the presidential helicopter.
According to the BBC, a small glitch forced President Trump’s helicopter to make an emergency landing as the state visit drew to a close. The helicopter, which had been transporting the president, was diverted to Luton Airport due to what officials described as a “minor hydraulic issue.”
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the incident, stating that the helicopter landed at a “local airfield” out of “an abundance of caution.” The President and the First Lady later safely transferred to a support helicopter, arriving at their destination, Stansted Airport, about 20 minutes behind schedule.
Emergency services were seen on standby on the tarmac at Luton following the unscheduled landing. Images showed both Marine One and Marine Two, the helicopters used to transport the president, parked just off the runway.
Both helicopters are part of the “white top” fleet, named for their distinctive paint scheme. These aircraft are equipped with advanced security systems, including missile defence, radar-jamming technology, and electromagnetic pulse resistance, designed to protect the president even in extreme scenarios.
As a standard security protocol, Marine One travels with a group of identical helicopters acting as decoys to obscure which aircraft carries the president. The group is typically accompanied by Osprey MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft, known as “green tops.” These versatile aircrafts combine the vertical lift of helicopters with the speed of airplanes and carry support staff, special forces, and Secret Service agents trained to handle in-flight emergencies.
Throughout the visit, President Trump had been using Marine One to travel between engagements as part of his second state visit to the UK, an unprecedented event in US-UK diplomatic history.
Trump arrived at Stansted Airport late Tuesday evening and was flown to Winfield House, the official residence of the US ambassador in London. On Wednesday, he and the First Lady visited Windsor Castle, where they met King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
On Thursday, Trump traveled via Marine One to Chequers, the country retreat of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, for diplomatic talks. After the meetings, the President and First Lady successfully boarded Air Force One for their return flight to the United States.
United Kingdom (UK)
September 19, 2025, 05:52 IST
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