The plane is the president’s emergency operations hub if nuclear war breaks out. Naval Air Systems Command

By Ross O’Keefe
March 11, 2026

The ominous “Doomsday” plane has been spotted flying over California — for the second time in two months.

The huge Boeing E-6B Mercury, which is the president’s emergency operations hub if nuclear war breaks out, coasted over Fresno over the weekend.

Airport bosses said it was conducting approaches at the site and spent two hours doing mock landings, leaving onlookers stunned.

The aircraft serves as a nuclear control platform and strategic command post. If the plane had to execute its mission, the US could be heading for a nuclear war.

The platform can control bombers, missiles and ballistic missile submarines. It can remain airborne for up to 12 hours without refueling and is capable of refueling mid-flight to extend missions even longer.

It is built to maintain global communications and operate even if ground command centers are disabled, essentially functioning as a mobile Pentagon in the sky.

“They can control the bombers, if the bombers are on alert, they can control the missiles, because the missiles are always on alert, and obviously they can control our ballistic missile submarines,” Major General Garrison told Fox 26. “It’s all combined into one.”

The plane caused panic at the beginning of the year when it was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been using the plane for his his “arsenal of freedom” tour.

Also aboard the plane then was right-wing internet personality Laura Loomer. The “Doomsday” plane’s appearance comes amid the conflict in the Middle East between Iran and the US and Israel.

The war has been felt across the US. Gas prices have skyrocketed, drawing eyes to the Middle East in a war that has forever changed Iran.

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Via https://nypost.com/2026/03/11/us-news/doomsday-plane-seen-flying-low-over-california/