Elon Musk flies to Joint Base Andrews the week of the OpenAI trial's final stretch

Elon Musk flew from Austin–Bergstrom International Airport to Joint Base Andrews on May 12, 2026, a 2-hour-26-minute hop in his new Gulfstream G800, N8628. The flight lands him just outside Washington, D.C., a city he visits only sporadically since selling his California properties and relocating to a SpaceX-rented home near Starbase, Texas.

The same week, the Musk v. Altman trial is barreling toward closing arguments in Oakland, California, per [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/02/musk-testimony-dominated-first-week-musk-v-altman-trial-in-oakland.html) and [ABC7](https://abc7news.com/live-updates/elon-musk-sam-altman-live-updates-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-testify-week-3-trial-begins/19080697/). Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified May 11, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is expected to take the stand this week. Musk is seeking up to $134 billion in damages and Altman's removal from OpenAI's board. The trial's liability phase is expected to conclude by May 21.

Musk's recent flight history shows heavy shuttling between the Bay Area, Seattle, and Los Angeles — likely trial preparation and xAI business. The D.C. trip may signal meetings with government officials or legal strategy sessions, though no public appearance has been announced. The G800, delivered in February 2025, bears his June 28 birthday in the tail and has quickly become his primary long-range jet.