'Departure Ban' Causes Stir as Presidential Aircraft Takes Off... Security Office Says "Performance Test Flight"

Military Human Rights Center "Destination Unknown"... Speculations Run Wild
Security Office & Joint Chiefs of Staff "Routine Flight to Maintain Performance"

As various speculations arose regarding the takeoff of the presidential aircraft 'Air Force One,' the Presidential Security Service clarified that it was a regular performance inspection flight.

The Presidential Security Service stated on the 10th, "Today's Air Force One flight was a regularly conducted performance inspection flight," and urged, "Please refrain from unverified unilateral claims and speculative reports."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are seen boarding Air Force One at Seongnam Seoul Airport last October as they departed for the ASEAN Summit. Photo by Yonhap News.

Earlier, the civic group Military Human Rights Center issued an 'urgent report' in the morning, announcing, "We have confirmed that Air Force One took off from Seoul Airport." They added, "Before takeoff, the aircraft is maintained by the Air Force 35th Squadron, and the flight plan is notified to the air traffic control tower; however, there was no maintenance or flight plan notification before takeoff," and stated, "The destination is unknown, and the passengers have not been identified."

Following the Military Human Rights Center's announcement, confusion arose online with speculation such as "Is President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is under a travel ban, fleeing by boarding the presidential aircraft?"

The Presidential Security Service confirmed that it was a regular performance inspection flight, and a Joint Chiefs of Staff official explained, "It is a maintenance flight conducted regularly once a week."

It was reported that Air Force One landed again at Seongnam Airport around 11 a.m. after completing the inspection flight.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.