US ‘flying gas station’ goes missing over Persian Gulf, after issuing distress signal, declaring emergency
The aircraft, identified as a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, reportedly issued a “squawk 7700” distress signal—the universal code for an in-flight emergency—during operations near Iran. Data from Flightradar24 indicates the plane departed from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, conducted aerial maneuvers, and then began descending.
A U.S. military refueling aircraft triggered an emergency alert before disappearing from radar while operating over the Persian Gulf, according to flight tracking data.
The aircraft, identified as a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, reportedly issued a “squawk 7700” distress signal—the universal code for an in-flight emergency—during operations near Iran. Data from Flightradar24 indicates the plane departed from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, conducted aerial maneuvers, and then began descending.
The aircraft’s signal was subsequently lost over Qatar. As of now, officials have not confirmed the cause of the emergency or the aircraft’s status.
The incident follows a previous crash involving a KC-135 in western Iraq months earlier. A group aligned with Iran claimed responsibility for that event, though U.S. authorities said investigations were still underway at the time.
The KC-135 plays a critical role in U.S. military operations, serving as an aerial refueling platform that extends the range and endurance of fighter jets and bombers. Any incident involving such an aircraft is considered significant.
