AIR FORCE ONE STIRS EXCITEMENT AMONG PLANE SPOTTERS, WHILE TRUMP'S VISIT CARRIES WEIGHT BEYOND RUNWAY

By Nurul Hanis Izmir and Samantha Tan

SEPANG, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- United States President Donald Trump’s one-day visit to Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits not only marked a significant diplomatic occasion, but it also drew enthusiastic plane spotters who assembled under the hot morning sun to capture a rare, once-in-a-decade aviation moment through their lenses.

For aviation enthusiasts like the 22-year-old student who wanted to be known only as “Z”, the sight of the iconic blue-and-white Air Force One descending against the Sepang skyline was a thrill worth waking up for.

“It’s very rare, actually.  He’s only the third US president to land in Malaysia,” said Z, who arrived at 6.30 am from Bangi with his friends, their cameras slung over their shoulders. 

According to Z, he and his friends had waited for a few hours for the most recognisable aircraft carrying Trump and his delegation to touch down yesterday and depart today.

“Everyone just started snapping.  It’s history in motion.  You don’t see Air Force One every day,” he shared.

For Z and his fellow flight spotters, it was not about politics or policy but about being part of a moment that combined aviation, diplomacy and history in a single frame.

To recap, former US President Barack Obama made two official visits to Malaysia during his tenure, first in April 2014 and again in November 2015.

To Z and the small but dedicated community of planespotters or aviation enthusiasts, the visit was less about politics and more about the aircraft itself.

“Some of us don’t agree with his politics, but we’re just here to see the plane,” he said.

Across the fence near the Bunga Raya Complex, dozens of hobbyists, some equipped with tripods and high-zoom lenses, camped from dawn waiting for that perfect shot. 

Many of them have spent years documenting aircraft movements at LIMA events in Subang and KLIA, posting their captures on Instagram and Facebook pages dedicated to the niche yet passionate community.

While the buzz at Sepang reflected public curiosity, political observers said the visit carried weight far beyond the runway.

Associate Professor Dr Benny Teh Cheng Guan of Universiti Sains Malaysia described Trump’s trip as both symbolic and strategic, being the first visit by a US president to Malaysia in nearly a decade.

“Symbolically, it emphasised Washington’s renewed high-level diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asia.  Strategically, it reassures ASEAN of the US commitment to balance China’s regional influence.  His presence highlights the intention for the US to remain an active and reliable partner,” he told Bernama.

During his stay, Trump witnessed the signing ceremony of the KL Peace Accord between Thailand and Cambodia, brokered under Malaysia’s ASEAN 2025 Chairmanship.

The accord is hailed as a breakthrough in regional diplomacy and established an ASEAN Observer Team to monitor peace efforts and ensure long-term stability in the border regions.

Trump had commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his courage and historic role in facilitating the accord, describing him as a great and historic figure who helped bring both sides together through dialogue and diplomacy.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, Trump and Anwar also held a bilateral meeting, during which both leaders signed the Malaysia-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement and elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on cooperation in technology, energy, and critical minerals.

The session was not without lighter moments.  Anwar’s playful remark about Trump’s pen being “the White House pen” prompted laughter in the room, a gesture that reflected the easy rapport between the two leaders.

They noted that Trump’s engagement style stands in contrast to his predecessors.

“He prefers a more transactional and bilateral approach compared to the multilateral emphasis seen during the Obama and Biden administrations,” he said.

Trump’s participation at the 13th ASEAN-US Summit further cemented Washington’s commitment to the region, where he pledged an enduring partnership under what he called the golden age of America.

“The visit also reinforces Kuala Lumpur’s role as a diplomatic crossroads, where both major and smaller powers can reconvene and engage amid global uncertainties.  It boosts Malaysia’s position as a bridge between ASEAN, regional powers and the US, reaffirming the importance of Kuala Lumpur as a meeting point for active diplomacy,” he added.

Trump’s next stops are Japan and South Korea, where he will attend the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, continuing his Asia tour that began in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA