Miracle over the Mojave

The Miracle over the Mojave refers to a widely publicized flight of a Boeing 737 piloted by comedian and filmmaker Nathan Fielder, conducted as part of the season 2 finale of the HBO series in May 2025. The flight, which departed from San Bernardino International Airport, flew to the Nevada border and returned, was notable for its unusual premise and the involvement of Fielder, who is not a professional pilot but received a special FAA waiver for the event.
Background
Nathan Fielder is a Canadian comedian, writer, and director known for his work on Nathan for You and The Rehearsal. The latter is an HBO series in which Fielder constructs elaborate scenarios to help participants rehearse difficult life events. The flight was conceived as the climactic event for the second season’s finale, described by critics as pushing the boundaries of reality television and performance art.
The flight
The flight took place on May 18, 2025, departing from San Bernardino International Airport in California, flying over the Mojave Desert to the Nevada border, and returning to its origin. The aircraft used was a Boeing 737, chartered specifically for the production. The FAA confirmed that all necessary waivers and safety protocols were in place for the flight, which was conducted under close supervision.
Fielder stated, “I wanted to do it for real, but obviously there are rules. I trained as much as I could, but I’m not Sully.” The term subsequently appeared in media coverage and was referenced by several outlets as a play on the Miracle on the Hudson. In the CNN interview, Fielder addressed questions about the flight’s safety and the FAA’s response to public speculation about the legality of the stunt.<ref name"CNN2025"/><ref name"NYT2025"/>
Following the episode’s broadcast, the FAA issued a statement clarifying that all necessary regulations had been followed and that the flight was conducted under proper supervision.<ref name"THR2025"/><ref name"Vulture2025"/> According to coverage in Vulture and The A.V. Club, some viewers and commentators speculated about the authenticity and safety of the flight, prompting the FAA’s response.<ref name"Vulture2025"/><ref name"AVClub2025"/> The coverage also included Fielder’s responses to criticism, with several outlets quoting him as saying the FAA’s concerns were “dumb” and that the flight was conducted safely and legally.<ref name"Vulture2025"/><ref name"AVClub2025"/> Fielder reiterated these points in his CNN interview.<ref name="CNN2025"/>
Cultural impact
The show’s depiction of pilot training and Nathan Fielder’s public criticism of the FAA sparked widespread discussion, with aviation expert John Goglia describing the public response as “unbelievable.”<ref name"NYT2025"/> The “Miracle over the Mojave” quickly became a topic of discussion on social media and in entertainment media, with media coverage and Fielder himself referencing the “Miracle on the Hudson” piloted by Chesley Sullenberger.<ref name"Vulture2025"/><ref name"AVClub2025"/> Multiple outlets highlighted Fielder’s tongue-in-cheek comparisons to Sullenberger’s famous landing, with headlines such as “Nathan Fielder: My 737 Flight Was Better Than Miracle on the Hudson.”<ref name"Vulture2025"/><ref name"AVClub2025"/><ref name"THR2025"/> The event was described by critics as “a perfect encapsulation of approach to television: blurring the line between reality and performance, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on screen,”<ref name"Vulture2025"/> and as “part spectacle, part social experiment.”<ref name"AVClub2025"/> Both Vulture and The A.V. Club noted the flight’s blend of reality television, performance art, and aviation.

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