A minor aviation accident occurred at the International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, May 12, involving a private Boeing 757 owned by former President Donald Trump. The aircraft accidentally struck a parked corporate jet while maneuvering on the tarmac.
The plane, registered to DJT Operations I LLC, a business owned by Trump, was involved in the incident. No injuries were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the event.
The collision occurred when the winglet of Trump’s jet came into contact with the parked, unoccupied corporate aircraft. The FAA has not yet revealed the extent of the damage to either aircraft. The agency has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the factors contributing to the incident and whether any aviation regulations were violated. No specific timeline for the conclusion of the investigation has been provided.
Trump was in Florida after the incident, not just for leisure but also for a significant family event. His son Barron graduated this weekend, a celebration that brought him near the West Palm Beach International Airport and his Mar-a-Lago estate, where he has been residing since he left office.
This aviation event takes place amidst Trump’s ongoing legal issues, including a prominent hush-money trial currently in progress at the Manhattan Criminal Court, New York, where he faces charges related to falsifying business records.
Under New York State law, Trump is required to attend every session of his trial. On the first day after leaving the courtroom, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Judge Juan Merchan’s refusal to allow him to attend Barron’s high school graduation ceremony, on May 17.
However, Judge Merchan did not forbid Trump from attending his son’s graduation; he merely stated on April 16 that he had not yet made a decision about the defense’s request to postpone the court session scheduled for May 17. Shortly thereafter, he approved the plea.
The Minnesota Republican Party announced that Trump was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at their Lincoln Reagan dinner on May 17. Although he had expressed a strong desire to attend Barron’s graduation ceremony, he was not present for the entire day.
Trump had the opportunity to attend both events. Barron’s graduation event at Oxbridge Academy, a private institution in Palm Beach, started at 10 a.m.
Considering that most 18-year-olds might not find the idea of celebrating their graduation with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer especially enticing, it is improbable that Barron would accompany his father to the event on Friday evening.
There was a moment when it seemed Barron might delve deeper into the political sphere in the near future. The Republican Party of Florida nominated him as one of the state’s at-large delegates for the Republican National Convention set to be held in 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 act as delegates.
As the FAA’s investigation into the tarmac collision continues, more details are anticipated to emerge, shedding light on the circumstances and implications of the incident at West Palm Beach International Airport. The high-profile ownership of the aircraft ensures that any updates relating to this event will be closely watched by the public and media.
