At West Palm Beach International Airport, on Sunday, May 12, a minor aviation incident occurred involving a private Boeing 757 owned by former President Donald Trump, which inadvertently clipped a parked corporate jet.
The aircraft, registered under DJT Operations I LLC, one of Trump’s businesses, was involved in the mishap. There were no reported injuries. The incident is now under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The collision took place while the aircraft was being maneuvered on the tarmac, with the winglet of Trump’s jet making contact with the unoccupied corporate aircraft. Details regarding the extent of damage to either aircraft have not been disclosed as the FAA continues its investigative process. The agency has committed to thoroughly examining all aspects of the incident to ascertain contributing factors and any potential violations of aviation regulations, though no specific timeline for the investigation’s conclusion has been provided.
The incident occurred the same week as Trump’s presence in Florida, not just for personal downtime but also due to a significant family event. Trump was in the state for his son Barron’s graduation, an occasion that brought him near West Palm Beach International Airport and his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he has been based since leaving office.
The aviation incident unfolded amid Trump’s ongoing legal battles, including a high-profile hush-money trial currently proceeding in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he faces accusations related to falsifying business records.
According to the laws of New York State, it is mandatory for Donald Trump to be present at every session of his trial. On the first day after exiting the courtroom, Trump voiced his grievances about Judge Juan Merchan’s refusal to grant him permission to be at Barron’s high school commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 17.
Contrary to what was believed, Judge Merchan did not prohibit Trump from going to his son’s graduation; he simply stated on April 16 that he hadn’t decided yet about the defense’s plea to postpone the court session scheduled for May 17. Shortly after, he approved Trump’s plea.
It has come to light that although Trump expressed a strong desire to attend Barron’s graduation ceremony, he was not there for the entire day. The Minnesota Republican Party revealed that Trump was the main speaker at their Lincoln Reagan dinner on May 17.
Trump had the opportunity to make it to both gatherings.
It seemed unlikely that Barron would join his father at the dinner on Friday evening, considering most 18-year-olds might not find the idea of celebrating their graduation in the company of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer particularly appealing.
There was a moment when it appeared Barron was gearing up to dive deeper into the political realm in the near future. He was nominated by the Republican Party of Florida as one of the state’s at-large delegates for the Republican National Convention scheduled to be held in Milwaukee in July. However, two days later the Office of Melania Trump clarified that Barron would not be participating, as conveyed 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, further details are expected to surface, providing clarity on the circumstances and consequences of the incident at West Palm Beach International Airport. The high-profile nature of the aircraft’s owner continues to draw significant attention, ensuring that any developments related to this event will be closely monitored by the public and media alike.