2 US ‘Doomsday Planes’ Crisscrossed Over Missouri, But It’s Fine

It's been an interesting Sunday over the middle part of America as radar shows two United States military 'doomsday planes' crisscrossed over Missouri earlier today, but it's fine. It's probably fine.

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If you aren't familiar with military aircraft, the United States Air Force has a fleet of Boeing E6-B Mercury planes that are almost always airborne for a very good reason. The US Navy site says the fleet "provides survivable, reliable, and endurable airborne Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) for the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command". That's why they've been nicknamed as the 'doomsday planes'. They are the worst-case-scenario for America in the event of a nuclear attack or national catastrophe.

Flight Radar 24 captured 2 of these US military planes crisscrossing Missouri Sunday afternoon. The first one codename "SHADO76" crossed Missouri a couple hours ago.

Another Boeing E6-B 'doomsday plane' codename CRUMB47 crossed the path of of SHADO76 heading north Sunday afternoon. This one flew over a big part of Illinois, too.

Let's talk about why this is almost certainly not a problem...probably.

As Wikipedia points out, there are at least 16 US 'doomsday planes' we know were built. They are commonly over Missouri since many planes in the fleet are based at Offutt Air Force Base in southeastern Nebraska. It's a common practice for at least a few of these military planes to be in the air for the very reason they were built - if there were to be a surprise attack that eliminated the command and control facilities on the ground.

Considering the fact that there are many conflicts happening around the world right now with tensions high between the United States, China and Russia, it's completely not unusual that 'doomsday planes' would be above us.