A United States Air Force plane declared an emergency as it flew from Israel to a British airbase today. The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which departed Ben Gurion Airport earlier bound for RAF Mildenhall, is reported to have declared an emergency over a hydraulic issue, according to an aircraft tracking account on X.
The crew reportedly asked whether London Heathrow could be used as a diversion airport because they required a long runway, though the aircraft currently still appears to be heading for Mildenhall.
The plane, REACH 123, is one of the US military's large refuelling aircraft, used to top up American bombers mid-flight during long-range missions. It later appeared to have landed safely at Mildenhall.
The incident comes after all six crew members on a US KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft which crashed in western Iraq were killed earlier this month.
The US KC-135 plane went down in the western part of Iraq, which authorities said was 'friendly airspace', and the tragedy was not caused by 'hostile fire.' The Department of War named Captain Ariana G. Savino, Major John 'Alex' Klinner, Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, Captain Seth R. Koval, Captain Curtis J. Angst and Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons as the victims of the crash.
US Air Force plane declares emergency as it flies into UK base from Israel
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15687517/US-Air-Force-plane-declares-emergency-flies-UK-base-Israel.html