US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s flight made an unscheduled landing in the UK while returning to the United States, according to the Pentagon. The aircraft, which was carrying Hegseth after attending a NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Belgium, experienced a “crack in the aircraft windshield.”
The Pentagon clarified that the landing was conducted according to standard procedures, ensuring the safety of all individuals on board, including Secretary Hegseth. After the incident, Hegseth communicated via social media that everyone was safe and expressed gratitude for the outcome, stating, “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!”
Flight tracking service BBC Verify noted that the plane began to lose altitude off the south-west coast of Ireland before changing course back east. The aircraft descended to approximately 10,000 feet during this time. Additionally, it began transmitting a “7700 squawk code,” a signal used in aviation to indicate a general emergency, which can include issues like engine failure, cabin depressurization, or medical emergencies.
This incident follows a similar occurrence in February, where a government aircraft carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also forced to turn back due to a crack in the cockpit window.
The recent gathering of defense ministers in Belgium focused on security matters concerning Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing discussions and international cooperation in defense strategy.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd67qe0255vo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss