A US Air Force aircraft transporting US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was compelled to change its course to the UK after encountering a mid-air crisis. Roughly 30 minutes into its journey from Brussels to Washington, the Boeing C-32A initiated a “7700 squawk code” on its transponder, indicating a general emergency onboard. The plane faced a “depressurization issue” off the south-west coast of Ireland, necessitating a descent to 10,000 feet and a return eastward, as per Airlive, an aviation news network that monitored the flight on AirNav Radar.
The descent was executed following the detection of a crack in the aircraft’s windshield, which was later confirmed by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. Parnell stated that Secretary of War Hegseth’s aircraft made an unplanned landing in the United Kingdom due to the windshield crack while returning from NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting. The landing was conducted in accordance with standard procedures, ensuring the safety of all passengers, including Secretary Hegseth.
Responding to Parnell’s announcement, Hegseth reassured, “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!” The airplane was redirected to RAF Mildenhall, a US Air Force installation in Suffolk. The defense secretary participated in NATO discussions on Ukraine’s security at the headquarters, emphasizing the support the allies were providing to Ukraine through the procurement of US weaponry.
Ukraine is advocating for American-made Tomahawk missiles, with President Donald Trump hinting at the possibility of supplying them to increase pressure on Russia to end the conflict. Although Hegseth did not specifically mention Tomahawks, he emphasized the forthcoming “firepower” and the transition of funding commitments from European nations into capabilities for Ukraine. These weapon acquisitions fall under the new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), with $2 billion already pledged for military equipment for Ukraine, and additional funding anticipated from NATO member countries.