Marine One executed an emergency touchdown at an area airfield in England on Thursday, 18 September, delaying President Donald Trump and First Woman Melania Trump’s departure from the UK by about 20 minutes.
The incident occurred because the presidential helicopter departed Chequers, the nation residence of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following a joint press convention. The helicopter was en path to London Stansted Airport (STN), roughly 64 miles northeast, the place Air Power One awaited for the return flight to Washington, D.C.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the small print in a press release.
“Because of a minor hydraulic challenge, and out of an abundance of warning, the pilots landed at an area airfield earlier than reaching Stansted Airport, the place Air Power One was ready to take them again to Washington,” Leavitt stated. “The president and first girl safely boarded the assist helicopter.”
Because of a minor hydraulic challenge, and out of an abundance of warning, the pilots landed at an area airfield earlier than reaching Stansted Airport.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
The Trumps transferred to a backup helicopter and accomplished the quick hop to STN with out additional incident, boarding Air Power One shortly after the 20-minute delay.
Stansted, positioned 42 miles northeast of central London, serves as a most popular gateway for overseas dignitaries visiting the UK. Its expansive services and place exterior the crowded airspace of Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) present operational flexibility for high-profile arrivals and departures.
Marine One: Presidential Rotary Transport Overseas
Marine One designates any US Marine Corps helicopter carrying the president, primarily operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) “Nighthawks” from Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virginia. The present fleet contains the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King, VH-60N White Hawk, and the newer VH-92A Patriot, all that includes the distinctive “White High” livery.
These helicopters don’t fly abroad routes independently. With a spread of about 450 miles and high speeds round 160 mph, fashions just like the VH-3D are suited to short- to medium-haul missions, comparable to White Home-to-Camp David transfers. For abroad journey, the plane are disassembled and transported aboard US Air Power airlifters, together with the C-17 Globemaster III or C-5M Tremendous Galaxy. HMX-1 crews then reassemble and check them on web site, deploying with backup models and upkeep assist.
The squadron maintains 35 helicopters throughout 4 varieties (the three listed earlier, plus MV-22 Ospreys, that are very hardly ever used for presidential transport), crewed by greater than 800 Marines. Operations emphasize safety, with formations of as much as 5 an identical plane serving as decoys, plus countermeasures like chaff, flares, and infrared jammers. Each personnel concerned undergoes Yankee White clearance.
Marine One’s Fleet Historical past and Evolution
Presidential helicopter transport started in 1957 with President Dwight D. Eisenhower utilizing a Bell UH-13J Sioux for a brief journey to his Pennsylvania summer season house. The Sikorsky H-34 adopted in 1958, changed by the VH-3A in 1961. The VH-3D entered service in 1978, joined by the VH-60N in 1987.
Put up-9/11 safety calls for prompted the VXX alternative program. After the 2009 cancellation of Lockheed Martin’s VH-71 Kestrel as a result of $13 billion in value overruns, Sikorsky secured a $1.2 billion contract in 2014 for the VH-92A, based mostly on the S-92. The primary VH-92A flew as Marine One in August 2024, carrying President Joe Biden in Chicago.
HMX-1 additionally helps senior officers and dignitaries, usually linking to Air Power One at bases like Joint Base Andrews. Floor protocols embrace Marine sentries in costume uniforms, and the squadron’s helos are routinely airlifted–even on standby–for world presidential journey.
Thursday’s precautionary touchdown marks a uncommon hiccup for the meticulously-maintained fleet. The final mechanical challenge occurred in 2006, when Marine One failed to begin for President George W. Bush, forcing a change to a motorcade.
The President and First Woman departed STN shortly after the transient delay, boarding Air Power One for the transatlantic flight house. Officers attributed the incident to plain precautionary protocols for hydraulic programs.
