US ‘Doomsday plane’ spotted landing in Washington DC triggering concern amid global tension
The US' 'Doomsday plane' landed in Washington DC earlier this week before later landing at LAX on Thursday (January 8), sparking concern amid growing tensions across the globe.
The Boeing E-4B 'Nightwatch', which has been commonly known as the 'Doomsday plane', is often used in emergencies including that of 9/11.
One of four E-4B aircrafts in the US fleet. The plane serves as a command post for the president and top military officials in the event of catastrophic events and even a nuclear war.
The titanium tube can theoretically withstand nuclear blasts and electromagnetic pulse, with the US Air Force explaining: "In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command and control centers, the aircraft provides a highly survivable command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities."
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The recent use of the aircraft has sparked concern, though it should be worth noting the fleet does make routine flights throughout the year.
Flight tracking sites revealed the plane departed Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday (January 6), before landing at Camp Springs, near Washington DC.
And a livestream from the YouTube channel Airline Videos showed the 'doomsday plane' landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday.
It remains unclear at this time the reason for the two flights.
The movement of the 'doomsday plane' comes after a ship known as The Marinera was seized by the US after it made contact with a US-sanctioned blockage near the South American country.
Tensions are rising in that part of the world as the US military campaign in Venezuela has implications across the globe.
Things escalated following the capture of the president Nicolàs Maduro, who has since been brought to New York to await criminal charges.
Meanwhile, reports of strikes hitting their capital of Caracas have also been circulating, with places said to have been struck, including a military airfield in the city centre and the main army base of Fuerte Tiuna.
As the Marinera was seized as it travelled through the waters near Iceland, Russia's Transport Ministry said in a statement: "In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states."
Russian lawmaker Alexia Zhuravlev has reportedly told Vladimir Putin to 'attack with torpedoes' and to 'sink a couple of American Coast Guard boats'.
Callum Jones