US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Plane Makes Emergency Landing in UK: What Happened? (2025)

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's Plane Makes Emergency Landing in the UK

A crack in the aircraft windshield forced US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's plane to make an emergency landing in the UK during a return flight from a NATO meeting in Belgium. The Pentagon confirmed the incident, stating that the plane followed standard procedures and that all passengers, including Secretary Hegseth, were safe. Hegseth himself later posted a reassuring message, 'All good. Thank God. Continue mission!' after the landing.

The incident occurred as the plane was flying over the southwest coast of Ireland, where it began losing altitude and headed back east, dropping to 10,000 feet. During this time, the plane broadcast a '7700 squawk code' on its transponder, indicating a general emergency onboard. This code is used to signal various emergencies, from engine failure to depressurization to medical emergencies.

Interestingly, this is not the first time a government plane has faced such an issue. In February, a plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to turn back due to a crack in the cockpit window. The defence ministers had gathered in Belgium to discuss security in Ukraine, highlighting the importance of these high-level meetings and the potential risks associated with international travel for government officials.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Plane Makes Emergency Landing in UK: What Happened? (2025)
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