'Doomsday Plane' is spotted in LA sparking panic after Maduro's capture
The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, known as the 'Doomsday plane,' landed in Los Angeles Thursday night for the first time in 51 years, prompting social media users to fear the worst.
Published: 19:28 GMT, 10 January 2026 | Updated: 23:09 GMT, 10 January 2026
President Donald Trump's emergency command aircraft has been spotted in Los Angeles, California, sparking panic and conspiracy theories on social media.
The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, colloquially known as the 'Doomsday plane,' serves as a flying command post for top officials during times of crisis and is built to survive a nuclear attack while coordinating military action.
The aircraft touched down at Los Angeles International Airport for the first time in 51 years on Thursday night.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was on board as well as a slew of conservative media correspondents.
But despite the rumors circulating online, the Pentagon clarified the Los Angeles stop was planned as part of Hegseth's nationwide 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour, a campaign focused on highlighting US defense production and strengthening military recruitment efforts.
The plane's takeoff sent social media into a frenzy, with users linking its presence to the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and fearing it signaled an escalation toward war.
'The Presidential 'Doomsday Plane' is airborne so either something very serious is happening, or Patel is on another date,' said one user.
Another account, @ConcernedCitizen, pointed out that the plane's deployment, which can withstand nuclear level attacks, was 'probably not a good sign.'
The Boeing E-4 'Nightwatch', also known as the 'Doomsday plane,' serves as a flying command post for key officials during times of crisis, particularly designed to survive a nuclear attack and coordinate military actions
The movement comes just days after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduroduring a covert operation on Saturday
'Is LA about to get nuked? Should I leave?' chimed another.
This is not the first time the arrival of the Doomsday plane has caused a stir on social media.
Two days earlier, flight trackers recorded the E-4B leaving its home base in Omaha and landing near Washington, DC.
Though primarily stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, the nuclear-proof aircraft is periodically deployed to other locations, including Kelly Field in Texas and Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, to maintain readiness and support diverse missions.