A US fighter jet has declared emergency code 7700 and made an emergency landing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to flight tracker reports. The aircraft, an F-33, is understood to have been engaged in attacks on southern Iran when it may have been hit by Iranian fire. It has since landed at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.
Squawk 7700 is the internationally recognised transponder code used by pilots to declare an in-flight emergency. It immediately alerts air traffic controllers that the aircraft requires priority handling.
US Airstrikes on Iran Continue
It is understood that American jets have conducted a number of airstrikes on Iran on Thursday night, targeting Bandar Abbas International Airport and Iranshahr Airport, as well as civilian infrastructure. Areas in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas were struck by “American projectiles,” Iran’s state television said late on Thursday.
Social media chatter out of the Middle East indicates that the US has been targeting bridges, roads, and other civilian infrastructure instead of just military targets. Reports come as the US confirmed it has launched its sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran on Thursday.
US Central Command Statement
US Central Command said in a statement: "At 2 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the sixth consecutive night to further degrade Iranian military capabilities." President Trump has been increasing pressure on Iran to follow the conditions outlined in the memorandum of understanding and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
This is a breaking news story. More to come.
