Spotting this particular plane flying above you could be the sign of bad things to come, as it’s usually only flown in national emergencies where prioritising life is the single most important thing.
Even in times of peace countries as big and important as the United States always have to have a plan. Being prepared for every possible scenario often involves an escape route, and for American officials that involves one specific plane.
The National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) has four separate E-4Bs, otherwise understood as modified Boeing 747-200s, ready to jet the president and any important officials away from danger, so if you happen to spot one flying above you there’s a good chance that you won’t have long left to live.
They’re largely reserved for the event of nuclear war, so when the government become alerted to an incoming enemy bomb or decide to push the big red button and activate one themselves, this plane gives them a means of getting out of the danger zone before things go bad.
As reported by LADbible, these E-4Bs are by far the most expensive vehicle in the Air Force’s lineup, burning $159,529 every single hour that they’re up in the air – but for good reason.
Not only does the plane’s construction feature advanced thermal and nuclear shielding to protect it’s passengers in the event of any impact, but it can fly for an entire week without needing to land thanks to its refuelling capabilities – something that’s likely essential if you’re trying to avoid a war.
If it found itself under attack by enemy missiles it also has several protective measures to evade that too, alongside advanced radar and surveillance technology to allow the onboard president to be on top of everything that’s going on.
All four planes located in the Air Force Base south of Omaha, Nebraska, have their engines running 24/7 in order to ensure that they’re ready to go from the moment that they’re needed.
However, the issue here is that you won’t have much time to react yourself, as we don’t all have our own dedicated private flights in the event of an incoming catastrophic event.
It’s not always doom and gloom though, as the planes are sometimes used to transport government officials for overseas meetings – so there’s not always the necessity to head down to your emergency bunker and break out the canned food.
If you do see it above you and it is in response to a nuclear bomb, there’s a good chance that you won’t have time to get to safety anyway.
A plane full of passengers was left stranded after air traffic controllers said ‘we’re going home’.
The Ryanair flight was due to travel from Malaga to Manchester when it diverted due to a medical emergency.
This involved a passenger being helped off the aircraft before the plane was expected to carry on to its destination.
However, things did not unfold as expected.
After the plane made its emergency landing in the northern Spanish city of Bilbao, it was refueled and preparing to take off for Manchester but the flight was unable to continue.
This is because air traffic control workers clocked off from their shifts, leaving the passengers stranded.
According to an airport spokesperson, this was because the flight plan ‘exceeded operational hours’.
One passenger, Sara Diggle, spoke to The Independent, claiming that air traffic control staff ‘refused to wait 15 minutes to see us off’.
Diggle went on to add: “They went home so we were unloaded, left high and dry to make our own arrangements for hotels.”
A spokesperson for the airport operator said: “I can confirm that the flight to Manchester departed on Sunday, at 13.01 local time. It didn’t depart the night before because the flight plan exceeded the operational hours of Bilbao airport.”
The plane finally arrived at Manchester Airport 14 hours later than it was originally scheduled for.
Recalling a previous experience, Diggle continued: “We unfortunately got diverted to Bordeaux last year after multiple medical issues on board so knew best to just make our own arrangements and not wait around a shut airport.
