Netflix will release the documentary "The Decoy Plane" on September 4, 2026. The film features footage from and interviews with reporters who were on board Air Force One during a secret presidential aircraft transfer in Turkey in July 2026.

The documentary reveals that reporters remained on board Air Force One unaware that Donald Trump had exited the aircraft. White House staff told journalists to lower window shades because the Secret Service ordered it. Gram Slattery said in the documentary trailer, "We're told by the White House staff that we should lower our window shades." Alex Brandon said, "I see those catering vehicles up against the side of Air Force One.. I have never seen that before."

Trump boarded Air Force One in Turkey in July 2026 while leaving a NATO summit. He had previously announced he would leave Turkey on an older version of Air Force One rather than the Qatar-donated 747-8 he used to arrive. Trump exited Air Force One through a catering truck to board a different aircraft.

Trump boarded a military jet after exiting Air Force One. Trump was transported back to the older version of Air Force One carrying reporters during a stop in Britain. The White House cited threats from Iran as the reason for the plane swap.

Timeline

Trump had previously announced he would leave Turkey on an older version of Air Force One rather than the Qatar-donated 747-8 he used to arrive. Reporters remained on board Air Force One unaware that Trump had exited the aircraft.

Trump boarded a military jet after exiting Air Force One. On July 9, 2026, The a report based on intelligence provided by Israel indicating that Iran planned to assassinate United States President Trump in Ankara, Turkey. White House staff told journalists to lower window shades because the Secret Service ordered it.

What's New

The Decoy Plane is the third installment of Netflix's quick-turn documentary series. Trump boarded the legacy Air Force One in front of cameras at Ankara on July 8 and was moved by catering truck to an Air Force C-32A that flew to RAF Mildenhall in England. On July 9, 2026, a report based on intelligence provided by Israel indicated that Iran planned to assassinate United States President Trump in Ankara, Turkey. Air Force One is an official United States presidential aircraft.

Why It Matters

The documentary provides firsthand accounts from journalists who were part of a security operation designed to protect the president from an alleged assassination plot. The White House cited threats from Iran as the reason for the plane swap, a decision that kept the press corps on a decoy aircraft while the president traveled on a separate military jet.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of a report published on July 9, 2026, which cited Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran planned to assassinate United States President Trump in Ankara, Turkey. The film documents how the Secret Service and White House staff coordinated to maintain the deception, instructing reporters to lower their window shades to prevent them from seeing the president's departure via a catering truck.