Trump’s Qatar Amiri Flight 747 may need fighter escorts to serve as Air Force One

  • Plane could be restricted to flying inside US unless significant upgrades made, experts say
  • Trump could waive specific safety requirements, if he chooses
  • Trump has dismissed criticism of his plan to receive and use the plane
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) – A Boeing 747 jet of Qatar Amiri Flight offered to President Donald Trump by Qatar as a temporary flying White House might need fighter jet escorts and could be restricted to flying inside the U.S. unless significant costly security upgrades were made, aviation experts and industry sources said.
Even if numerous improvements to the plane’s communications and defenses are made over the coming months once any deal is completed, the military escort and domestic restriction could remain in place, the experts and sources said.