Two months after a so-called Doomsday Plane caused a stir by landing at Los Angeles International Airport, a similar plane sparked fear and speculation when it was spotted performing exercises at Fresno Yosemite International Airport on Sunday.
Both massive aircraft can act as the president’s emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war.
Aviation enthusiasts spotted the latest plane and took to Reddit to discuss its maneuverings. The overwhelming consensus was that such operations are relatively normal, but that the current state of world affairs — U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with retaliatory strikes from Iran on Middle East neighbors — added some anxiety to an otherwise benign spotting.
The plane “provides survivable, reliable and endurable airborne Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) for the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command,” per the U.S. Navy. It is 150 feet long, was deployed in 1998 and cost $141.7 million. And it can launch intercontinental ballistic missiles bearing nuclear warheads, if needed.
The plane at LAX was the Boeing E-4B Nightwatch and carried Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Southern California as part of his monthlong “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, while the plane near Fresno was a Boeing E-6B Mercury apparently performing landing exercises.
“It is common for aircraft to conduct touch-and-go operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport,” said Vikkie Calderon, a spokesperson for the airport. “In addition to serving as a public-use airport, Fresno’s geographical location, runway capabilities, and Instrument Landing Systems make it an optimal choice for a wide range of aircraft operations.”
