A US military KC-135 tanker has gone missing after declaring an emergency over the Persian Gulf, raising concerns amid escalating tensions with Iran. The aircraft transmitted a ‘7700’ distress signal while conducting refuelling operations before disappearing from radar.
The KC-135 was reportedly headed towards Qatar when it lost contact. Regional reports indicate that GPS jamming and spoofing were occurring in the area at the time of the incident, which complicates recovery efforts.
Key facts:
- The aircraft went off radar after declaring an emergency.
- H125 light utility helicopters were observed in the area following the loss of signal.
- No official confirmation has been made regarding the aircraft’s status or the cause of the emergency.
The aircraft had been airborne for several hours before triggering the emergency alert. This incident follows a pattern of increased military operations in the region, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran.
In March, another KC-135 aircraft went down in Iraq during peak hostilities related to the US-Iran war. The current situation may exacerbate already strained relations, as officials have yet to provide clarity on the fate of this latest aircraft.
