A United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III declared an in-flight emergency shortly after takeoff from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft, operating under the call sign RCH633, initiated a fuel dump procedure over the German countryside before diverting to Ramstein Air Base.
The emergency, indicated by squawk code 7700, prompted the crew to dump fuel at an altitude of approximately 7,000 feet to reduce the aircraft's weight for landing. The C-17 can carry over 100,000 litres of fuel, weighing more than 82,000 kilograms, according to the US Defence Logistics Agency.
Fuel dumps are standard procedure when a heavily laden aircraft must land prematurely, ensuring the landing gear and airframe are not damaged. The jet fuel disperses into a thin mist at altitude, minimising environmental impact.
The nature of the emergency has not been disclosed. The US European Command has been approached for comment. The C-17A, valued at around $200 million, landed at Ramstein Air Base shortly after 5pm CET after circling for several hours.
