U.S. Defense Secretary’s C-32 Aircraft Issues Distress Signal Over Atlantic

A U.S. Air Force C-32, a military-modified Boeing 757 carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, transmitted a “7700” distress signal while flying over the Atlantic Ocean, according to aviation tracking data and Pentagon sources. The aircraft was en route to Washington, D.C., from Brussels, where Hegseth had been pressing European NATO allies to bolster purchases of American weapons to support Ukraine.

The “7700” transponder code, indicating an onboard emergency such as engine failure, a medical issue, or a fire, prompted the aircraft to descend to 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) and redirect toward the United Kingdom for a presumed emergency landing. Pentagon sources confirm that Secretary Hegseth remains unharmed, though no official statement has been released.

The incident occurs amid strained NATO discussions, with Hegseth advocating for increased allied spending on military aid for Kyiv. Notably, a similar incident involving a C-32 occurred earlier this month when a technical malfunction forced the plane carrying the U.S. Vice President to return to Washington.