WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump is once again en route to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland after his plane returned to the US due to a “minor electrical issue,” according to a White House official.

Trump landed safely on Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews near Washington to change aircraft on Tuesday night after crew on his initial flight identified what the White House called a "minor electrical issue" shortly after takeoff.

After the Boeing 747 landed, the trip continued on a smaller Boeing 757 that departed just after midnight local time (0500 GMT) on Wednesday, more than two hours after the initial flight took off.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to turn back was taken shortly after takeoff, after the crew chose to return as a precaution.

A reporter on board the aircraft said the lights in the press cabin briefly went out after takeoff, though no explanation was provided at the time.

The White House Rapid Response team also confirmed on social media that the issue had been identified mid-flight.

“Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews. The president and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland,” the post said.

Trump is headed to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he is expected to clash with European leaders over his push to take control of Greenland.

Trump was scheduled to meet several global leaders in Davos and had earlier described the Switzerland visit as an “interesting trip.” “I have no idea what’s going to happen, but you are well represented,” he said before departure.

Air safety incidents involving the US president or vice president are rare, but not unprecedented.

Air Force One aborted a landing due to bad weather while carrying President Barack Obama to an event in Connecticut in 2011. In 2012, the Air Force Two plane carrying then-Vice President Joe Biden was struck by birds in California, before it landed without a problem.

Last February, an Air Force aircraft carrying secretary of state Marco Rubio to Germany was forced to return to Washington after a mechanical problem.

In October, a military plane transporting defence secretary Pete Hegseth made an emergency landing in the United Kingdom due to a cracked windshield. — Agencies