The mysterious “flying Pentagon” was spotted in Los Angeles, igniting a flurry of social media speculation and conspiracy theories about serious trouble ahead.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was aboard the aircraft, commonly known as the “Doomsday Plane” when it touched down at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday night.
Hegseth is currently traveling on his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which aims to spotlight the U.S. defense industrial base and boost military recruiting.
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Also aboard the plane was right-wing internet personality Laura Loomer. Posting on social media, Loomer said Hegseth called enlistees at the Los Angeles Military Entrance Processing Station “real elites and one percenters” for committing their lives to “God and Country.”
“Is it any wonder why U.S. military recruitment is soaring?” Loomer wrote, crediting Hegseth.
One user on X even referred to Hegseth as “badass.”
“This is essentially a nuclear-proof, airborne command unit,” one user on X wrote. The account, @ConcernedCitizen, which has more than one million followers, added: “Probably not a good sign.”
One person took to X to speculate about the reason for the latest sighting, suggesting that Russia’s strikes on Ukraine may have played a role.
“Have FAITH — WE ARE IN CONTROL. PATRIOTS. PATRIOTS DAY. HAVE FAITH. YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR A REASON. YOU ARE BEING PROVIDED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEL TO EVER BE DROPPED PUBLICLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD,” the user wrote.
🚨🌎 Presidential Doomsday Plane is spotted leaving LA International
This is essentially a Nuclear proof undetectable Airborne Command Unit.
Probably not a good sign. pic.twitter.com/shh9aH1bWB
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) January 9, 2026
The E-4B Nightwatch is a heavily modified Boeing 747 operated by the U.S. Air Force. It serves as a flying command center designed to keep the federal government functioning during major national emergencies, including nuclear war.
This is not the first time the doomsday plane has drawn public attention.
The aircraft flew to Joint Base Andrews in Washington, D.C., as the president was weighing potential military strike options against Iran in June. It was also spotted in Fort Worth, Texas in September.
The most recent flight was first noticed by Airline Videos, a popular YouTube channel that provides 24/7 livestreams of aircraft activity, and was later picked up by both local and national watchdogs.
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“What’s believed to be the first appearance in its 51-year flying history, the Boeing 747 E-4B Nightwatch — also known as the ‘Doomsday Plane’ — showed up at LAX during Thursday’s Airline Videos Live broadcast and will most likely be the highlight of 2026,” the platform’s X account wrote late Thursday night.
What’s believed to be the first appearance in its 51-year flying history, the Boeing 747 E-4B Nightwatch, also known as the “Doomsday Plane,” showed up at LAX during Thursday’s Airline Videos Live broadcast and will most likely be the highlight of 2026! pic.twitter.com/wvc39ypRnP
— AIRLINE VIDEOS (@airlinevideos) January 9, 2026
The aircraft 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.
