US President Donald Trump was caught up in a midflight incident aboard his Marine One helicopter when it experienced a hydraulic issue while beginning the long journey home to Washington DC from the UK.
According to reports, President Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump were forced to make an unscheduled stop at Luton Airport (LTN) after the Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot helicopter experienced a technical problem.
Earlier in the day on September 18, 2025, President Trump had been meeting with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, a country retreat for the British leader, where they discussed world events.
After the unscheduled stop at Luton Airport, President Trump and the first lady boarded another helicopter to complete their journey to Stansted Airport (STN).
“Due to a minor hydraulic issue, and out of an abundance of caution, the pilots landed at a local airfield before reaching Stansted Airport. The president and first lady safely boarded the support helicopter,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary.
.@POTUS and @FLOTUS are greeted by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/UfDpVK8C0t
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 17, 2025
President Trump is not the first US leader to have been involved in a midflight scare, which is perhaps unsurprising considering how much they travel by air.
Here are some of the other inflight incidents in which other US presidents have been caught up:
President Joe Biden – 2012
In 2012, US President, and then Vice-President, Joe Biden, was flying on a Boeing 757 government aircraft when it was struck by birds.
The plane landed safely, and there was no official emergency declared. However, Biden was required to switch planes to complete his journey.
President George W. Bush – 2023
In 2023, former US President George W. Bush was forced to make an emergency landing after the smell of smoke was reported in the aircraft cockpit.
The Gulfstream 4 was diverted to Louisville, Kentucky, but later continued to Dallas following safety checks.
President Bill Clinton – 2003
In June 2003, President Clinton was traveling in Air Force One when it was involved in a “near miss” with a UPS Boeing 747 cargo plane near Ireland.
The pilot of the presidential plane was warned of the danger and took evasive action to avoid a potential midair crash.
President Ronald Reagan – 1984
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan was flying to Washinton DC on Air Force One when the aircraft lost cabin pressure due to a relay failure in an air vent.
The pilot reduced the aircraft’s altitude from 21,000 feet to 9,000 feet before continuing the flight to the US capital.
President Barack Obama – 2012
In 2012, President Barack Obama was travelling to a campaign event on Air Force One and coming into land in Toledo, Ohio.
There were clouds at 400 feet with foggy and misty conditions, resulting in the pilot pulling up during the landing and executing a go-around.
President Bill Clinton – 1996
In 1996, President Clinton was flying from New Mexico to South Carolina when the aircraft was hit by heavy turbulence during thunderstorms.
According to reports at the time, passengers and meals were thrown around the cabin and a Secret Service agent suffered a cut to his hand.
Commenting on the turbulence afterwards, President Clinton said: “I was holding on, I was holding on. It was certainly a character builder, wasn’t it?”
