US media have reported that US President Donald Trump was secretly transported from Air Force One to another plane as he flew out of Turkey amid a security threat from Iran.
The Washington Post broke the story on Monday, quoting a US official familiar with the matter and another person, as well as material it reviewed.
Trump boarded the presidential aircraft in view of television cameras as he left Ankara on July 8 following a NATO summit.
The paper says, however, he was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane via an airport catering truck parked on the other side of Air Force One.
Videos show a truck behind the aircraft. A photo taken diagonally in front of Air Force One shows the truck’s cart was raised and connected with the plane.
The Washington Post says journalists and some White House staff believed that they were on the same plane as Trump.
The paper added that the clandestine operation highlights the depth of concern that US security officials had about his safety.