Los Angeles International Airport got a rare visit by the federal government’s “Doomsday Plane” this week.
Conservative social media personality Laura Loomer posted photos of the plane, which arrived at LAX on Thursday. She was among the plane’s passengers, the most notable of whom was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who made several Southland stops as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour aimed at boosting military recruiting.
The plane, a Boeing 747 E-4B Nightwatch, is operated by the U.S. Air Force and is intended to serve as an airborne, mobile U.S. command center in the event of a major disaster or national emergency. It is rarely flown, although the New York Post reported that it was spotted last year at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, D.C., and in September in Fort Worth, Texas.