A US military aircraft carrying Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth was forced to make an unscheduled landing in the UK after a crack developed in the cockpit windshield, the Pentagon confirmed.
The plane was returning to the United States from a NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Belgium when the issue occurred. “The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe,” the Pentagon said in a statement on X.
Flight tracking data from BBC Verify showed the aircraft began losing altitude off Ireland’s southwest coast before turning back east and descending to about 10,000 feet. At that point, it transmitted a “7700” emergency squawk code, indicating a general onboard emergency.
After landing safely in the UK, Hegseth reassured followers online, writing: “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!”
The incident comes months after a similar occurrence in February, when a government plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio was forced to return due to a cracked cockpit window.
Hegseth and fellow defence ministers had been meeting in Belgium to discuss Ukraine’s security situation and NATO’s ongoing support.
This post was published on 16 October 2025 00:05
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