A US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker declared an emergency while flying from Israel to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. The aircraft, which departed Ben Gurion Airport, is believed to have experienced a hydraulic issue, according to an aircraft-tracking account on X.
The crew transmitted a Squawk 7700 code—the international signal for a general emergency—off the coast of Norfolk. Flight data indicate the tanker performed several loops, likely to burn off excess fuel before landing. The crew reportedly requested a diversion to London Heathrow Airport due to its longer runway, but the aircraft landed safely at Mildenhall.
The KC-135 Stratotanker provides aerial refuelling support to US Air Force operations. It is powered by four turbofan engines and can carry up to 83,000 pounds of cargo, depending on fuel configuration.
This incident follows a crash on March 12 in western Iraq that killed six US service members aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker. The US military said the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire, and the cause is under investigation.
