What did Candace Owens claim about Erica Kearney and Egyptian military planes and where did she say it?
Executive summary
Candace Owens has publicly claimed that two Egyptian military aircraft—identified by registrations SU‑BTT and SU‑BND—“overlapped” with the documented locations of Erika (Erika/Erika) Kirk roughly 68–73 times between 2022 and September 2025, and that both planes were present at Provo Airport on the day Charlie Kirk was shot (Sept. 10, 2025) with one briefly powered on or taking off [1] [2] [3]. Owens made these allegations in posts and a November 17, 2025 episode of her podcast “Candace” (Operation Mocking‑Plane: The Charlie Kirk Plot Thickens) and in viral social posts, according to multiple outlets [4] [1] [5].
1. What Owens actually said — the claim in plain words
Owens told listeners and social followers that flight‑tracking data show two Egyptian Air Force/C‑130 type aircraft (registrations reported as SU‑BTT/SU‑BND or SUBTT/SUBND) repeatedly matched or “overlapped” with Erika Kirk’s documented travel on roughly 68–73 occasions from 2022 through September 2025; she also said one of those aircraft was visible at Provo Airport on the morning of the shooting while the other remained on the ground “powered on” or took off [3] [1] [6].
2. Where she said it — podcast and social posts
The specific revelations were aired on Owens’ November 17 podcast episode titled “Operation Mocking‑Plane: The Charlie Kirk Plot Thickens” and amplified via viral X/Twitter clips and other social postings; multiple outlets report she presented the flight‑tracking analysis during that episode and in subsequent social posts [4] [1] [5].
3. The factual anchors reporters cite — registrations, counts, and dates
News coverage cites Owens’ naming of the two aircraft as SU‑BTT and SU‑BND (or SUBTT/SUBND in variant reporting) and repeats her overlapping‑counts—figures that appear variously as 68, nearly 70, or 73 overlaps—and her claim that 29 of those overlaps also included Charlie Kirk [3] [6] [1]. Outlets also repeat her contention that one plane “transponded” or was “powered on” at Duncan Aviation’s FBO at Provo on Sept. 10, 2025 [1] [3].
4. How different outlets are presenting the story
Reporting is consistent in describing Owens as the source of the allegations and in citing the same data points, but counts vary across pieces (68, nearly 70, 73) and some outlets emphasize the conspiracy framing while others simply summarize the claims [6] [2] [5]. Opinion and aggregation sites add editorial color—labeling the theory “wild,” “fever dream,” or “conspiracy‑heavy”—highlighting that journalists and industry commentators view the assertions as extraordinary [7] [8].
5. What Owens connects the data to — motive and cover‑up narrative
Owens uses the flight overlaps to argue for foreign surveillance or an organized “military operation” tied to Charlie Kirk’s assassination; she couples the aircraft allegations with broader claims about suspicious actors, alleged cover‑ups, and institutional motives inside Turning Point USA [2] [9]. Her narrative links the tracking theory directly to questions about the FBI’s statements and official leads [10] [2].
6. Immediate responses and downstream effects reported
Coverage notes pushback: colleagues and associates of Kirk have criticized Owens, accusing her of stoking harassment; outlets also report that Owens’ claims have driven viral attention and subscriber gains for her platform, and that the allegations have generated debate about targeting of Kirk‑adjacent people [8] [7]. Several reports record that the claims are unverified in news reporting and framed as allegations rather than established fact [4] [6].
7. Limitations in the available reporting
Available sources consistently attribute the flight‑overlap figures and the Provo‑airport claim to Owens’ podcast and social posts, but they do not present independent verification of the flight‑tracking analysis, official confirmations from aviation or Egyptian authorities, nor an FBI response specifically addressing the aircraft overlaps in the cited articles [4] [1] [3]. Not found in current reporting: corroboration of the alleged plane movements by independent aviation data experts or public statements from Egyptian military or U.S. aviation authorities.
8. Why context matters — how to read extraordinary allegations
Multiple stories underscore that Owens’ claims are extraordinary and consequential; they rest on technical flight‑tracking interpretation and on linking coincident timing to intent. Journalistic best practice requires independent data verification and official comment before treating these overlaps as proof of surveillance or a plot. Several outlets therefore present Owens’ narrative alongside skepticism and report the claims as unverified allegations [7] [8] [6].
If you want, I can assemble the specific timestamps and direct quotes Owens used in the November 17 episode as reported by outlets, or pull together the variant counts (68 vs. 73) and which outlets use each figure for a side‑by‑side comparison from the sources above [6] [3] [1].