A catering truck is visible parked on the opposite side of Air Force One on the tarmac after US President Donald Trump boarded the plane following the NATO summit at Ankara International Airport in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo)US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and several White House aides joined President Donald Trump on a military plane, Air Force C-32A, that he boarded to fly out of Turkey after sneaking off Air Force One following an Iranian threat, CBS News reported.As part of the deception, Hegseth separately boarded the smaller military aircraft, while Trump’s aides Dan Scavino, Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta accompanied the president during the covert transfer in an airport catering truck.The presidential jet carried Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials, as well as members of the press corps. Rubio was aware of the switch and the threat, while a US official said Bessent was likely aware but could not confirm it.While in the United Kingdom, the Republican leader then shifted to Air Force One for the second leg of his trip back to Washington.Under the US presidential line of succession, the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury rank fourth and fifth, respectively, after the vice president, the Speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate.That makes Rubio and Bessent two of the highest-ranking officials in the presidential line of succession after the vice president and congressional leaders.Also Read | Trump confirms secret flight from Turkey after Iran threat: Why he switched from Air Force OneTrump on Wednesday confirmed that he was secretly moved from the presidential aircraft to a military plane while leaving Turkey last month.#WATCH | US President Donald J Trump says, “It’s only up to the Secret Service. I just follow what they’d like to do. I go by the Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane, equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I did… https://t.co/g7GCshkcAq pic.twitter.com/IM8Ful4OaS— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2026“I just follow what they’d like to do. I go by the Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane… so I did it. I do what they say,” Trump told reporters after The Washington Post broke the story about his switch from the presidential plane.Story continues below this ad“I think actually the plane that I flew on was at greater risk,” he said, confirming the potential threat. “I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for.”(With inputs from agencies)The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram