Emergency slide deploys on Air Force One before Trump boards.

An inflatable emergency slide deployed from the front door of Trump's Qatari-gifted Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. The incident delayed the president's departure for the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas.

• Trump remained aboard Marine One after it landed, waiting out the delay.
• The slide unfurled from the right-hand front door, not the door Trump normally boards.
• The older blue-and-white Air Force One was moved into position nearby as a backup.
• Trump said crews were checking the slide and told reporters it was safe to fly.

Why it matters: The Qatari-gifted 747 has been a persistent source of controversy since Trump announced plans to use it as Air Force One. Wednesday's slide deployment adds a new operational incident to that record.

How 33 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage does not split on facts; all outlets report the same sequence of events.

What’s next: Trump said the slide check would take roughly 15 minutes before departure.

• The White House had not explained the incident as of initial reporting.
• What caused the slide to deploy, and whether it indicates a broader mechanical issue with the aircraft.
• Whether Trump ultimately flew to Dallas on the Qatari-gifted plane or the older Air Force One.