Topline
Two empty miniature tequila bottles were found on one of the new Air Force One planes Boeing is fitting out at a facility in San Antonio, Texas, according to The Wall Street Journal, but at this point it's unknown how the alcohol made its way onto the highly classified future presidential jet.
A U.S. Air Force VC-32 takes off from Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
Key Facts
Boeing is building two new Air Force One jets that the company describes as being of the "highest national priority."
Alcohol is not allowed in the facility and Boeing is taking the discovery very seriously, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In a statement to Forbes, a Boeing spokesperson said, “This is a personnel matter and for contractual reasons we are unable to comment further.”
Big Number
$3.9 billion. That's how much Boeing is getting paid to construct the planes, as part of a contract agreed to with President Donald Trump's administration in 2018.
Key Background
Boeing told the Air Force earlier this year that delivery of the first plane may slip to 2025—a year later than planned. In April, Boeing terminated a contract with GDC, the company it had hired to design and build the planes' interiors, which it said had fallen a year behind schedule, and filed a lawsuit against it. In a countersuit, GDC blamed the delays on Boeing mismanagement of the project. The planes are 747s that are being heavily modified with military-grade avionics, defense systems and secure communications systems so that they can serve as aerial stand-ins for the White House. The planes were originally built for a Russian airline that went bankrupt and never accepted the planes.
What We Don't Know
President Donald Trump unveiled plans to change Air Force One's color scheme from the longstanding baby blue that's been in place since the Kennedy administration to red, white and blue striping. It's unclear whether President Joe Biden plans to keep his predecessor's redesign.
Further Reading
Tequila Bottles Found On New Boeing Air Force One Jet (The Wall Street Journal)
Delivery of new Air Force One planes could be delayed until 2025 (DefenseNews)
