A US air force spokesperson said on 15/9 that the aircraft from Qatar will be used to "support air transport for presidential missions."
Details about the modifications to the Boeing 747-8 and the company contracted for the work are being kept confidential, the spokesperson added.
US media previously reported that renovating and installing security and communication equipment on a used aircraft from another country, even an ally, is a complex undertaking. US intelligence and security agencies will have to dismantle the aircraft down to its frame and reassemble it to eliminate any risk of information leaks.
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The Qatari Boeing 747 at Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, US, on 15/2. Photo: AFP |
The Qatari Boeing 747 at Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, US, on 15/2. Photo: AFP
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink estimated in June that the cost of converting the aircraft could be around 400 million USD.
The Qatari royal family gifted the luxurious Boeing 747-8, dubbed a "flying palace," to the Donald Trump administration, emphasizing it could be the most expensive gift the US government has ever received. A commercial Boeing 747-8 currently costs around 400 million USD. This model is over 5 meters longer than the current Air Force One.
Many US lawmakers, especially Democrats, expressed concerns about the gift from Qatar, suggesting the aircraft posed security risks and was unnecessary.
President Trump countered that only a "fool" would refuse the aircraft. The Qatari prime minister also denied the aircraft was a personal gift to Trump, stating it was a transaction between the two governments.
Ngoc Anh (CNN, NBC, Yahoo News)
