President Donald Trump returns to Joint Base Andrews on July 09, 2026 in Washington, DC (Getty)

A luxury jet, gifted by Qatar and upgraded by the U.S. Air Force, is being used as a presidential plane, with modifications costing an estimated $1 billion.

Industry experts and former Air Force officials warn the aircraft may lack advanced antimissile capabilities, potentially leaving it vulnerable outside U.S. airspace.

The president used the plane for trips to North Dakota and Turkey, but returned from Turkey on an older Air Force One due to Secret Service concerns over renewed threats from Iran.

Former officials expressed alarm, stating that the one-year retrofitting period was insufficient to install all necessary security modifications for presidential travel.

While White House officials assert the plane is state-of-the-art and secure, lawmakers have questioned whether security upgrades were compromised for personal comfort.

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