Doomsday Plane Spotted Again in Fresno: E-6B Mercury Conducts Low-Flying Drills Amid Global Tensions
Residents of California’s Central Valley witnessed an unusual sight over the weekend when a military aircraft known for its high-stakes mission flew low over Fresno Yosemite International Airport. A US Navy E-6B Mercury, capable of functioning as an airborne command post during a nuclear crisis, conducted repeated landing drills on Sunday, sparking curiosity and concern online, according to the Los Angeles Times. KMPH reported that the exercises lasted roughly two hours, with the plane making multiple low passes and circles above the airport.
This incident follows a similar event two months ago when an E-4B Nightwatch, another so-called “Doomsday Plane,” landed at Los Angeles International Airport while transporting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, the Times said. The E-6B Mercury, a 150-foot-long Boeing aircraft first introduced in 1998 at an estimated cost of $141.7 million, is equipped to provide secure nuclear command and control for the nation’s top leaders and can transmit launch orders for intercontinental ballistic missiles. The plane can carry up to about two dozen crew members, according to SFGate.
While aviation enthusiasts on Reddit largely considered the maneuvers routine training, some noted that tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran made the timing seem striking, the Times reported. Airport officials emphasized that “touch-and-go” drills like these are common at Fresno because of its favorable runway and navigation facilities.
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