President Donald Trump‘s emergency command aircraft has been spotted in Los Angeles, California, sparking panic and conspiracy theories on social media.

The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, colloquially known as the ‘Doomsday plane,’ serves as a flying command post for top officials during times of crisis and is built to survive a nuclear attack while coordinating military action. 

The aircraft touched down at Los Angeles International Airport for the first time in 51 years on Thursday night.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was on board as well as a slew of conservative media correspondents.

But despite the rumors circulating online, the Pentagon clarified the Los Angeles stop was planned as part of Hegseth’s nationwide ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ tour, a campaign focused on highlighting US defense production and strengthening military recruitment efforts.

The plane’s takeoff sent social media into a frenzy, with users linking its presence to the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and fearing it signaled an escalation toward war. 

‘The Presidential ‘Doomsday Plane’ is airborne so either something very serious is happening, or Patel is on another date,’ said one user.

Another account, @ConcernedCitizen, pointed out that the plane’s deployment, which can withstand nuclear level attacks, was ‘probably not a good sign.’

‘Is LA about to get nuked? Should I leave?’ chimed another. 

This is not the first time the arrival of the Doomsday plane has caused a stir on social media.

Two days earlier, flight trackers recorded the E-4B leaving its home base in Omaha and landing near Washington, DC.

Though primarily stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, the nuclear-proof aircraft is periodically deployed to other locations, including Kelly Field in Texas and Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, to maintain readiness and support diverse missions.

The E-4B has a storied history as an airborne command center during crises, including Hurricane Opal in 1995, and famously served as a secure refuge for President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks. 

Despite its morbid nickname, the plane is not reserved solely for doomsday scenarios, senior officials have used it for overseas travel.

The purpose of Tuesday’s mission has remained unclear but comes amid a surge in global tensions. 

Trump has threatened multiple nations this week, escalating disputes with NATO ally Denmark by warning the US military could seize Greenland to counter Arctic threats from China and Russia. 

The administration has said they are weighing options from purchasing the territory to assuming its defense, insisting the issue ‘is not going away.’

Meanwhile, the US seized two tankers linked to Russia and Venezuela, enforcing oil blockades, as Iran faces its largest anti-regime protests in three years. 

At least 20 people have died amid unrest, and Trump vowed severe retaliation if crackdowns continue.