In a tense and unexpected turn of events, Marine One — the iconic presidential helicopter — was forced to make an emergency landing in the U.K. on Thursday, with both President Donald Trump and irst Lady Melania Trump on board.
The couple was en route to Stansted Airport, just outside London, where Air Force One was waiting to fly them back to the United States. But plans quickly shifted mid-flight.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, “Due to a minor hydraulic issue, and out of an abundance of caution, the pilots landed at a local airfield before reaching Stansted airport.”
Leavitt emphasized that “the president and first lady safely boarded the support helicopter,” continuing on without incident.
While the technical issue was reportedly minor, any mechanical trouble aboard Marine One — particularly with a president on board — is treated as a serious matter.
Speaking to reporters later aboard Air Force One, Trump quipped: “Fly safely. You know why I say that? Because I’m on the flight. I want to get home, otherwise I wouldn’t care.”
After the unexpected detour, the Trumps successfully completed their trip back to the United States aboard Air Force One.
Hydraulic issues on helicopters, while not uncommon, can affect controls and systems that are critical during flight. It’s still unclear what precisely triggered the alert, or whether maintenance crews had flagged any concerns prior to takeoff. The White House has not released further technical details.
