A secretive flight by the U.S. Air Force’s ‘doomsday plane’ has drawn global eyes amid rising tension between Israel and Iran. The Boeing E-4B, nicknamed ‘Nightwatch,’ is no ordinary jet — it acts as a flying command center if disaster strikes.
On June 17, the plane left Barksdale Air Force Base and landed at Joint Base Andrews after four mysterious hours in the air. Unusually, it used the call sign ‘ORDER01’ instead of the standard ‘ORDER6,’ fueling speculation.

The E-4B can fly for days, withstand missile attacks, and protect against electromagnetic pulses. With just four in existence, one is always ready. As the Air Force explains, it ensures “a highly survivable command, control and communications center” during crises.
The unusual flight happened as Donald Trump left the G7 summit early, later meeting with security officials to discuss possible strikes on Iran. Trump doubled down online, warning, “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”
The world now watches for what comes next.
