A US Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker issued a ‘7700’ distress signal over the Persian Gulf and lost contact.
The aircraft was conducting aerial refueling operations when it declared an in-flight emergency. It departed from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
About one hour after the emergency declaration, the aircraft’s transponder signal vanished. Reports indicate that it changed course and began descending toward Qatar before losing its signal.
The incident occurred over the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route. The US military has not released any official statement regarding the cause of the alert or the aircraft’s status.
The KC-135 Stratotanker has been part of the US Air Force’s operations for more than 60 years. It allows military planes to stay in the air longer and travel greater distances.
Concerns have arisen regarding the aircraft’s disappearance. However, aviation experts caution against assuming a crash until military assets confirm its location.
Officials have not confirmed whether the crew is safe or if there were any hostile activities involved. The precise cause of the emergency remains unknown.
The KC-135 is powered by four turbofan engines and can carry both passengers and equipment. Hundreds of these aircraft remain in service with various branches of the US military.
