Last Updated:May 05, 2026, 17:58 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.
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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.
There has been no official statement from the United States regarding the aircraft’s condition or whether the incident is linked to any hostile activity in the region. The status of the aircraft remains unclear.
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker has been in service with the United States Air Force since the late 1950s and plays a key role in extending the range of military aircraft through aerial refuelling operations. It is widely deployed in overseas missions and support operations.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region after a fresh wave of attacks raised fears of renewed conflict in West Asia.
The fragile truce was under strain on Tuesday, as the US and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf while competing for control over the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway which has remained effectively closed since the war began two months ago following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
(With inputs from agencies)
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