A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, popularly called “flying gas station” due to its aerial refuelling capabilities, reportedly lost signal while flying near the Strait of Hormuz after issuing an emergency alert.
The flight-tracking systems showed the aircraft sending a 7700 squawk code, which is the international signal for a general emergency. It later disappeared from the radar near Qatar. The aircraft was reportedly heading towards a military base.
The Boeing aircraft is believed to have disappeared over the Strait of Hormuz after making a descent and shifting course towards Qatar. According to reports, it was conducting refuelling operations over the Gulf region. The 7700 emergency code can indicate a wide range of situations, including mechanical failure, onboard fire, medical emergency, or an external threat.
Gulf News reported that the aircraft’s signal was lost about an hour after the emergency code was detected on flight-tracking platforms.
The number of crew members onboard remain unclear. As per US Air Force data, the flight is usually operated by a single person and includes a cargo deck that can accommodate passengers.
While losing signal does not confirm a crash, reports suggest the possibility of a serious incident due to the combination of sending the emergency code, followed by the aircraft disappearing from the radar.
There are no confirmed reports of debris, distress calls, rescue operations, or maritime alerts in the region.
The economically critical Strait of Hormuz has seen escalated tensions between Iran and the United States in recent months after a joint US-Israel operation against Tehran began on February 28. Iran imposed a blockade on the maritime passage, which previously carried 20% of the world’s oil. Despite a fragile ceasefire, Iran and the United States continue to assert their dominance over the strait. The US-led “Project Freedom”, aiming to escort foreign ships stranded in the strait, has caused further aggressions between both countries.
