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Last Updated:May 05, 2026, 17:48 IST
The aircraft reportedly transmitted a “7700” emergency code shortly after taking off from Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.
KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft refuelling a US Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft. (File photo via US Central Command/X)
A US aerial refuelling tanker aircraft, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, issued a distress signal and declared an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf near Qatar, according to flight tracking data on Tuesday.
The aircraft, often described as a “flying gas station" due to its role in refuelling other jets mid-air, reportedly transmitted a “7700" emergency code shortly after taking off from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
The code is a universal signal used in aviation to indicate a serious in-flight emergency.
According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft later entered a circular holding pattern before beginning its descent, suggesting attempts to stabilise the situation ahead of a possible landing.
However, its signal was briefly lost during the incident, and the exact cause of the emergency has not been confirmed.
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News world US 'Flying Gas Station' Issues Mid-Air Emergency Over Persian Gulf, Aircraft Status Unconfirmed
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