U.S. Air Force AWACS Aircraft Experiences Emergency Situation Over the Strait of Hormuz

An U.S. Air Force Boeing E-3B "Sentinel" airborne early warning aircraft transmitted an emergency code 7700 over the Gulf of Oman, descending rapidly from 6,700 meters to approximately 5,400 meters before turning inland toward the Arabian Peninsula.

 

Flight tracking data indicates that a U.S. Air Force Boeing E-3B "Sentinel" long-range early warning aircraft recently triggered a distress signal near the Strait of Hormuz airspace. At the time, the aircraft was flying over the Gulf of Oman. When its transponder was detected by radar at 22:40 UTC on Thursday, it had activated the emergency code 7700—the standard distress signal pilots use when encountering sudden emergencies.

Radar records show that this aging early warning aircraft, which has been in service for 46 years, rapidly descended from over 6,700 meters to about 5,400 meters after sending the distress call, then turned westward, leaving the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz airspace, heading inland toward the Arabian Peninsula.

At nearly the same time, three U.S. Air Force KC-46A "Pegasus" aerial refueling aircraft were taking off from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, flying along a circular route over the United Arab Emirates, not far from the incident airspace.

To date, the U.S. side has not disclosed the specific cause triggering the 7700 code, nor has it revealed the aircraft’s subsequent landing location.

Notably, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier—previously directly involved in operations against Iran—has begun its journey back to its home port in California. Although the carrier has started its return voyage, it has not yet departed the area under U.S. Central Command’s responsibility, which encompasses the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Africa. According to reports, the Lincoln, carrying around 5,000 crew members, has been on active combat readiness duty at the front line for nearly nine months.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874092296908876/

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