July 9 (UPI) — President Donald Trump unexpectedly departed Turkey aboard an older Air Force One and then switched in Britain to the newly renovated Qatari-gifted jet he had arrived in Ankara on before heading home.

The reason for the change was not immediately clear. The president said the new aircraft had been sent ahead so U.S. troops in Britain could see it, but the switch also prompted questions about security after he repeatedly said earlier Wednesday that he was “number one” on Iran’s kill list.

Trump departed Ankara, where he was for the two-day NATO summit, aboard an older Air Force One at 8:45 p.m. local time Wednesday, landing at Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall in Suffolk, Britain, at 10:16 p.m. local time, where he deplaned and then boarded the new Air Force One.

The Qatari-gifted plane was wheels up at 11:14 p.m., en route to the United States.

Speaking with reporters aboard the new jet about the change, he said they had sent the new aircraft to the British base early so troops there could see it. Trump referenced a picture of the jet shot earlier at RAF Mildenhall with hundreds of people posing before it and posted to his Truth Social account.

Asked if there was a security concern that caused the change, Trump said, “No, no, why would there be?”

Earlier in the day, Trump had stated he was the No. 1 assassination target of Iran, which neighbors Turkey.

During a press conference held after it was learned that he would not be leaving aboard the new jet, he was asked if concerns over assassination threats was behind the travel change.

Without answering directly, he addressed the threats to his life.

“I’m number one on the kill list for Iran,” he said.

Asked again why he wasn’t flying on the new jet, he replied, it was flying to Europe “so the soldiers can see it because it’s truly magnificent.”

Concern has surrounded Qatar’s gift of the $400 million luxury jet since it was made public in May. Critics, Democrats and some Republicans have described the gift as amounting to bribery and a foreign influence campaign.

Others also raised concerns over the cost and ability to transform it into a secure and safe aircraft for the president.

Trump first flew on the refurbished plane early this month to North Dakota, where he visited the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, N.D., ahead of its opening on the Fourth of July.