Cracked windscreen forces US defence secretary’s plane to make unscheduled landing in UK
Reuters
Hegseth at the Nato meeting earlier
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the UK, during a return flight headed for the US, the Pentagon said on X.
The plane carrying Hegseth on his way back from Nato’s Defence Minister meeting in Belgium had a “crack in the aircraft windshield”.
“The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe,” the government said.
Hegseth later wrote after landing: “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!”
BBC Verify tracked the plane, and found that it began losing altitude off the south-west coast of Ireland. It then headed back east, having dropped to an altitude of 10,000 feet, accoring to FlightRadar24.
At this time, the plane started broadcasting a “7700 squawk code” on its transponder. These are relayed to signify a general emergency onboard, ranging from engine failure to depressurisation to a medical emergency.
In February a government plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to turn back due to a crack in the window of the cockpit, as well.
Defence ministers had gathered in Belgium on Wednesday to discuss security in Ukraine.
