Trump’s Marine One helicopter makes emergency landing in UK due to ‘minor hydraulic issue’

By Linh Le September 18, 2025 | 07:18 pm PT

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were forced to switch to a support helicopter after their Marine One presidential helicopter experienced a hydraulic issue while en route to the U.K.’s Stansted Airport.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump (L) walk across the tarmac from the Marine One helicopter toward Air Force One at Stansted Airport, in Stansted, north of London, on Sept. 18, 2025, to leave at the end of the U.S. President's second State Visit. Photo by AFP

The incident occurred on Thursday as the couple traveled from Chequers during Trump’s second state visit to the U.K., according to Fox News. The Daily Mail reported that Marine One safely landed at Luton Airport, where Trump and the First Lady were transferred to a second "support" helicopter to complete their journey.

The emergency landing caused a brief delay, with the couple arriving at Stansted about 20 minutes behind schedule.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the issue was "minor" and that the diversion was taken "out of an abundance of caution."

"The President and First Lady safely boarded the support helicopter," she confirmed.

Trump’s second state visit to the U.K. ran from Tuesday to Thursday, The Guardian reported. His first state visit took place in 2019 during his first term, according to Reuters.