The aircraft normally carrying the president of the United States or a member of his immediate family, known as Air Force One, was spotted above the United Kingdom on Wednesday morning, and civilian air monitors have tracked it headed towards the Middle East.
An image circulating on social media shows the plane speeding across the sky over Yorkshire in Britain’s mid-central Chapeltown, after leaving Andrews Air Force Base at midnight.
Speculation from political pundits have led some to say it could be a surprise trip to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan or a diplomatic trip to Turkey.
Analysts say that, because the aircraft does not have the “Air Force One” callsign on this flight, it could be headed to pick a member of U.S. President Donald Trump’s family up from the Middle East or has another dignitary on board.
There has been no word from the White House and President Trump has not tweeted for 17 hours.
Sources telling me Trump’s on his way to visit troops—possibly in Iraq. Better late than never. But also a bit troubling that so many folks seem to already know about this if it hasn’t happened already. #OpSec anyone?
— Paul (PJ) Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) December 26, 2018
