U.S. Justice Department Operates Two Discreet Boeing 757s — Rare International Missions Raise Questions
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) operates two Boeing 757 aircraft, based at Richmond International Airport, that play a key role in federal law-enforcement mobility and crisis response. The aircraft — N874TW and N119NA — have largely disappeared from civilian flight-tracking platforms such as Flightradar24 since 1 November 2025, limiting public insight into their activity.
N874TW received a new livery. Also N119NA got a new livery according the AEROSINT RADAR. N199NA was at Lake Charles Airport from July 25, 2025 until October 22. Likely for maintenance. During that period, it also received a new livery.
N874TW flies under the callsign JENA1, while N119NA uses JENA2.
Local Flights and Secrecy Surrounding Operations
Observers note that both 757s frequently conduct short, local flights around their Richmond base. The reason for these repetitive movements remains unclear. The aircraft are known to transport senior FBI leadership and deploy the bureau’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) during high-risk incidents.
One such operation occurred on January 1, 2025, when N874TW flew to New Orleans after a man intentionally drove a rented Ford F-150 Lightning into a crowded stretch of Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring 55 others. The aircraft has also occasionally been used for international prisoner transfers when foreign governments extradite suspects to the United States.
Both jets also visit Lake Charles, Louisiana, likely for scheduled maintenance and airframe modifications.
Extradition Flight from Ecuador
On July 20, 2025 N874TW flew from Richmond to Guayaquil, Ecuador, returning to the United States the same day, landing at Islip Airport near New York. The timing aligned with Ecuador’s extradition of Adolfo Macias, known as “Fito,” a notorious drug trafficker handed over to U.S. authorities.
In a rare deviation from protocol, the aircraft did not use the typical callsign JENA1 during the return flight, instead identifying as N84TW — a detail that stood out to aviation trackers accustomed to its standard operational pattern.
Unusual Long-Range Mission to the Middle East
On December 7, 2025 N874TW conducted one of its few known overseas missions. Departing Richmond, the aircraft made a refueling stop in Brussels before continuing to Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport (OMAD).
The following day, it performed a short hop to Doha. On the evening of December 9, the aircraft departed Doha once again. At that moment, the purpose of the flight became clear. On board were FBI Director Kash Patel and several FBI personnel.
Mint reports that, having already hosted a FIFA World Cup, Qatar is now providing security support and expertise for next year’s event. In July, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a memorandum of understanding with Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, aimed at strengthening security cooperation in preparation for the tournament.
N119NA visit to Poland
On 5 February 2023, aircraft N119NA departed from Richmond bound for Rzeszów, Poland. After disembarking its passengers, the aircraft continued to Kraków, where it was parked.
Nearly a month later, on 4 March 2023, the aircraft flew from Kraków back to Rzeszów. Following a stop of just over one hour, it departed and returned to Richmond, United States.
The timing of this visit coincided with U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s visit to Ukraine. Garland later testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he believed the Russian government was committing crimes against humanity, and stated that the Department of Justice supports efforts in The Hague to investigate and prosecute those crimes.
The trip was not announced for security reasons. That is one of the reasons both B757’s cannot be tracked on Flightradar24.
Transport of captured Venezuela president Maduro to the VS
On 3 January 2026, Venezuela’s detained president, Nicolás Maduro, was flown from Guantánamo Bay to Stewart International Airport, located north of New York City.
The transfer was carried out aboard Boeing 757 N874TW, with Maduro accompanied by his wife.
