USAF KC-135 Lands Safely After Gulf Emergency

A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker declared an in-flight emergency Tuesday over the Arabian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, issuing the international distress code 7700 before its transponder signal vanished as it approached Qatari airspace. The aircraft, registration 62-3578, had departed from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on a routine aerial refueling mission supporting U.S. military operations in the region.

Flight tracking data showed the tanker entering a circular holding pattern over the Gulf prior to the alert, followed by a controlled descent toward Qatar, home to the major U.S. base at Al Udeid. The signal disappeared from public trackers such as Flightradar24 about an hour after the emergency declaration. Shortly afterward, two Airbus H125 helicopters lifted off from Al Udeid Air Base, consistent with standard search-and-rescue procedures for a military aircraft distress call.

A U.S. defense official confirmed to reporters that the aircraft landed safely, with the Pentagon verifying the incident's resolution and stating there was no evidence of hostile action. U.S. Central Command and Air Force officials provided no further details on the cause,...