The U.S. Navy’s “Doomsday” plane was spotted performing landing exercises at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California on Sunday, March 8, 2026. (FOX26 News)
(Tribune News Service) — The U.S. Navy’s “Doomsday” plane was spotted performing landing exercises at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California on Sunday.
The massive aircraft, a Boeing E-6B Mercury, can act as the president’s emergency operations hub in times of national security threats, such as a nuclear war.
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,” according to the U.S. Navy.
It is 150 feet long, was deployed in 1998 and cost $141.7 million. It can also launch intercontinental ballistic missiles bearing nuclear warheads, if needed.
Aviation enthusiasts spotted the 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.
“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.”
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