- The US DOOMSDAY NUCLEAR PLANE TAKES OFF FROM PENTAGON for the first time
By SCM REPORTER
January 10, 2026 – FEARS of a global conflict have reached fever pitch after the US military’s infamous “Doomsday Plane” was caught on camera taking off for what experts claim is the first time in its 51-year history.
Terrifying footage captured by Rapid Report shows the massive Boeing E-4B Nightwatch—a flying command centre designed to survive a nuclear blast—roaring into the skies.
The high-stakes flight comes as tensions boil over following the dramatic US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, sparking fears that the Trump administration is bracing for a “worst-case scenario.”
The E-4B, dubbed the “Flying Pentagon,” has been shrouded in secrecy since it was first built in 1973.
While the fleet is always on high alert, the aircraft is almost never seen by the public, usually operating from hushed military bases in America’s heartland.
But the windowless beast, recognizable by the mysterious “hump” on its back which houses advanced satellite gear, was spotted landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after a flight from Washington D.C.
On board was reportedly US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though the Pentagon has remained tight-lipped on why the high-tech war machine was used instead of a standard government jet.
One onlooker who witnessed the landing said: “It’s the plane meant for nuclear war. Seeing it at a civilian airport is enough to make your blood run cold.”
The Nightwatch is built to keep the US government running even if Washington is wiped off the map. It is hardened against electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), can stay airborne for an entire week with mid-air refuelling, and can communicate with nuclear submarines hidden deep in the oceans.
Military insiders say the plane has only been activated for a true emergency once before—in the chaotic hours following the 9/11 terror attacks.
What is the Nightwatch?
The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch is arguably the most survivable aircraft in the world.
The Fleet: The US Air Force operates four of these modified 747-200s. At least one is kept on 24-hour alert at all times.
Nuclear Shield: The plane’s electrical systems are shielded to survive the pulse from a nuclear detonation. It has no windows in the main cabin to protect the 112-man crew from thermal blasts.
The first models were delivered in 1973 (E-4A) and upgraded to the current “B” configuration by 1980.
Known as the National Airborne Operations Center, it allows the President and Secretary of Defense to command all US forces—including the nuclear “football”—from the sky during a national catastrophe.
