A minor aviation incident involving a private Boeing 757 owned by former President Donald Trump took place at West Palm Beach International Airport, Florida, on Sunday, May 12. The aircraft inadvertently clipped a parked corporate jet.
The aircraft is registered under DJT Operations I LLC, a business owned by Trump. No injuries have been reported from the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now conducting an investigation into the matter.
The collision happened as the aircraft was being moved on the tarmac, with the winglet of Trump’s jet making contact with the stationary corporate aircraft. Information regarding the damage to either aircraft is currently unavailable as the FAA continues its investigation. The agency has committed to a thorough examination of all aspects of the incident to identify contributing factors and any potential breaches of aviation regulations. However, the FAA has not provided a specific timeline for the completion of the investigation.
The incident was the same week as Trump’s stay in Florida for personal time and a significant family event. The former President was in the state for his son Barron’s upcoming graduation this weekend, an event that brought him near West Palm Beach International Airport and his Mar-a-Lago estate, his base since leaving office.
The aviation incident occurred amid Trump’s ongoing legal challenges, including a high-profile trial in Manhattan Criminal Court related to hush-money allegations where he faces charges related to falsifying business records.
According to New York State laws, it is compulsory for Trump to appear at every session of his trial. After the first day in court, Trump voiced his dissatisfaction over Judge Juan Merchan’s initial reluctance to let him attend Barron’s high school graduation, scheduled for May 17.
Contrary to belief, Judge Merchan did not deny Trump permission to attend his son’s graduation; he simply stated on April 16 that he hadn’t yet made a decision about the defense’s plea to postpone the court session scheduled for May 17. He approved Trump’s plea shortly after.
Although Trump expressed a strong desire to attend Barron’s graduation ceremony, he was not there for the entire day. The Minnesota Republican Party announced that Trump was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at their Lincoln Reagan dinner on May 17.
Trump had the chance to attend both events. Barron’s graduation ceremony at Oxbridge Academy, a private institution in Palm Beach, started at 10 a.m.
There was a point when it seemed Barron was preparing to become more involved in politics. He was nominated by the Republican Party of Florida as one of the state’s at-large delegates for the Republican National Convention scheduled for Milwaukee in July. However, two days later, the Office of Melania Trump clarified that Barron would not be participating, as stated to the Daily Mail in a statement that read, “While Barron is flattered to have been selected as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully must decline the opportunity due to previous commitments.” All of Barron’s siblings, with the exception of Ivanka Trump, will take on the role of delegates.
As the FAA’s investigation into the tarmac collision progresses, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the circumstances and repercussions of the incident at West Palm Beach International Airport. Given the high-profile nature of the aircraft’s owner, any updates related to this event will be closely watched by the public and media.
