President Donald Trump’s flight to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum was disrupted late Tuesday when Air Force One was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after takeoff. The White House said the aircraft experienced a “minor electrical issue” and landed safely out of caution.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the incident, noting that the plane touched down around 11:00 pm local time. Journalists traveling with the president reported that cabin lights briefly went out after departure.

Trump and his delegation switched to another aircraft and resumed their journey about two and a half hours later, departing again shortly after 5:00 am GMT.

Air Force One, with its iconic blue and white design, has long symbolized the American presidency. Yet Trump has repeatedly criticized the aging fleet, which consists of two Boeing 747-200B aircraft introduced in 1990 under President George H. W. Bush.

Frustration has grown over delays in the delivery of two new 747-8 jets. Trump has suggested exploring alternatives to Boeing, and last year the Pentagon accepted a Boeing 747 offered by Qatar for presidential use. The move sparked debate over constitutional and security concerns tied to using a foreign-donated aircraft for such a sensitive role.

The mid-flight return underscores both the technical challenges of maintaining decades-old presidential planes and the political controversy surrounding efforts to modernize them.