The Secret Service advised Trump to fly his old plane because the new jet donated by Qatar is unsafe.

The Secret Service recommended that President Donald Trump leave Turkey on July 8 on the old Air Force One, rather than the new plane donated by Qatar. CBS News Sources familiar with the situation said this episode has once again raised questions about the security of the new presidential plane.

The White House claims the new Air Force One is equipped with high-level security systems. However, the Secret Service proposed using the older aircraft, which is equipped with secure communications channels and sophisticated defense systems, according to CBS News sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the nature of the national security issues being discussed. The Secret Service declined to comment.

The new plane donated by Qatar to transport the president was rushed into service and does not yet have some necessary capabilities, according to US officials.

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Leaving the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump used an older version of the presidential plane, though he arrived in Ankara on a new one. Later that day, landing in the UK, he switched back to a modernized aircraft donated by Qatar.

The decision to use the old aircraft was made to ensure the president could direct military action against Iran directly from the aircraft, as well as for his own safety, sources said. The recommendation was not linked to any specific or credible threat and was precautionary in nature.

Older aircraft serving as Air Force One are equipped with laser systems capable of blinding incoming missiles, as well as munition-diverting technologies and other countermeasures, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News. It's unclear whether the Qatari Boeing 747-8 is equipped with such systems. The US Air Force declined to disclose specific specifications.

The New York Times previously reported that the Secret Service asked the president not to use the new aircraft for departure from Ankara, warning of security risks due to the newly escalated conflict with Iran. Qatar delivered the $400 million jet last year, after which the military spent several months modifying it to suit the presidential transport needs.

A former US government official told CBS News that he doubted the military had the time and resources to equip the new aircraft with the defensive systems necessary to fully perform the functions of Air Force One.

Trump himself explained the stopover in the UK by saying he wanted to give American troops stationed in Europe an opportunity to inspect the new aircraft. However, the change of plans came after the conflict with Iran sharply escalated, with the two sides exchanging new strikes this week.

Iranian missiles are capable of reaching Turkish territory.

"The new Air Force One is a modern aircraft, equipped to the highest security standards to ensure the protection of the president and his team," said White House Communications Director Steven Chung. "As the president recently stated, the United States has many adversaries targeting it, and we are using every tool available, including distraction and disorientation, to counter these threats."

The US Air Force previously stated that "the aircraft is safe, reliable, and equipped with the latest technologies necessary to perform presidential missions. These requirements were developed with functionality over appearance as the top priority, so the interior, inherited from the previous President, has been minimally modified."

The Air Force added: "There were no compromises on safety, reliability, or connectivity, but the team made a number of decisions on less-demanded capabilities that Boeing will need to implement over the next 40 years."

The president himself did not claim that the plane was unsafe, although he repeatedly said that it was Iran's target.

"Their leaders are disappearing," he said at a press conference following the NATO summit. "The main leaders disappeared, then others appeared—and they, too, disappeared. Now there's a new group, and who knows what will happen next. And you know, I could disappear too. Because I'm their number one target."

On board Air Force One, Trump spoke about threats from Iran.

"If I disappear, so will you," he told reporters. "Perhaps you should consider changing your profession."

During a flight on an older Air Force One in Turkey, journalists were told to lower the window shades—an unusual requirement for presidential flights.

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Trump accepted the jet from Qatar despite objections from security critics and concerns from government experts who pointed out the risks associated with accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign government.

"There will never be another like it. This is a unique aircraft," the president said, introducing the plane. "It's considered the most luxurious aircraft in the world. When it was built, the standard was so high that there will never be another like it."

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