Share and Follow
This past weekend, residents of Fresno had a curious sight to behold as an unmarked airplane circled the city’s airport. This incident marks at least the third time such an unusual appearance of military-grade aircraft has been observed in California.
The aircraft in question was a Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury, often referred to as the “Doomsday Plane.” On Sunday, it made a conspicuous 30-minute flight at an unexpectedly low altitude. The purpose of its sortie remains unclear. Typically, this type of aircraft functions as an airborne headquarters and communication hub for the U.S. Navy, providing essential capabilities for nuclear control and serving as a strategic command post.
Videos captured of the event show the white plane with its bright lights performing descents and takeoffs, piquing the interest of many observers.
This isn’t the first time such aircraft have been sighted in the area. On March 8, another E-6B Mercury was seen in Fresno conducting practice landings over a span of two hours. Just two days later, a Boeing P-8 Poseidon, famously known as a “submarine hunter,” was reported flying over the city, as previously covered by the California Post.
According to FOX26, the Poseidon made its presence known audibly before being visible, with residents describing it as a large and loud aircraft flying at unusually low altitudes.
The appearances come amid a leaked FBI memo of an “unverified” report that Iranian drones could attack California from a ship, but authorities have downplayed the memo.
“No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said on X.
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.
“It is common for aircraft to conduct touch-and-go operations at Fresno Yosemite International Airport,” Vikkie Calderon, a spokesperson for the airport, told the LA Times. “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.”