By admin 
(Gray News) – The emergency slide appeared to have been deployed on Air Force One, delaying President Donald Trump’s departure for his GOP convention.
Read more Southern Arizona school district issues warning over viral trend
The inflated slide was visible on the far side of the Qatari-gifted aircraft as Trump arrived at Joint Base Andrews. He had stayed on Marine One for several minutes before emerging to talk to reporters.
Trump told reporters on the tarmac that crews were testing the slide.
“They were doing a check on the slide, you know, in the emergency. So, I think it takes about 15 minutes,” Trump said before boarding the aircraft.
After Trump boarded, a crew packed up and carted the deployed slide away.
Trump was traveling to Dallas for the first night of the GOP midterm convention.
Asked whether he was sure the Qatari-gifted jet was safe for his trip to Texas, the president expressed no doubt: “Yeah, I am, or I wouldn’t be on it.”
Read more Man accused of trafficking child from Arizona to Florida indicted
Trump flew on the Qatari jet during his July trip to Turkey for the NATO summit. An older Air Force One was used as a decoy when he returned home from Ankara.
According to CNN, the older Air Force One was pulled up and parked behind the newer one while Trump waited on Marine One Wednesday. Crews said that it was serving as a backup.
Read more Glendale PD: Violent private security guards had police-style equipment