A US military aircraft, famously known as the “doomsday plane,” landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday for a brief overnight layover, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed Monday.
The Boeing E-4B aircraft remained at NAIA for “refueling and crew rest,” according to the PAF, which stressed the visit was purely logistical.
“This aircraft has diplomatic clearance, but there is no VIP visit to the Philippines associated with it,” the PAF said in a statement.
The Air Force added it would continue to monitor and assist the aircraft during its “diplomatic layover” until its scheduled departure.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco confirmed the aircraft took off at 11:38 a.m. Monday.
The Boeing E-4B is officially the National Airborne Operations Center and functions as a mobile command center for the U.S. President, the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.