Rumors spread on June 17, 2025, when the U.S. “Doomsday plane” was spotted making an unusual flight. The sighting raised concerns amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran following a missile exchange. The U.S. and U.K. have not officially joined the conflict, but speculation about a wider war continues.

Former President Donald Trump referred to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as an “easy target,” warning that America’s patience was running thin. He also suggested Israel might continue strikes unless a nuclear agreement is reached.

The Boeing E-4B “Doomsday plane”, also known as the National Airborne Operations Center, is a highly specialized aircraft designed to serve as a mobile command center during nuclear war or major disasters. It can fly for 12 hours and be refueled mid-air, functioning as a “flying Pentagon.”

On June 17, it departed from Bossier City, Louisiana, at 5:56 p.m. ET and landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 10:01 p.m., flying under the rare callsign ORDER01. It usually uses ORDER6, prompting speculation about elevated presidential or defense alert levels.

The plane has been used in past crises, including after 9/11 and Hurricane Opal, and serves multiple government and military roles.