- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker issued a 7700 distress signal over the Persian Gulf near Iran
- The plane took off from Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and lost signals over Qatar
- Cause of emergency is unclear; no official link to hostile action has been confirmed
A Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which acts as a flying gas Station for US military planes, issued a "7700" distress signal, declaring an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf off Iran amid escalating Middle East tensions, the Flightradar24 data showed. The American aerial took off from the Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before it's signals were lost over Qatar.
The aircraft had reportedly been operating over the Middle East in support of ongoing military operations.
The flight tracking data show the plane flew in a circular pattern in the air for a while, before it begun its descent for landing. The exact cause of the emergency remains unclear, and there has been no official confirmation linking the incident to hostile action.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on the disappearance, citing data from Flightradar24. There has been no statement from Iran indicating its involvement in the US military plane's emergency.
US military has also not issued any statement on the status of the plane.
In March, the US military lost a KC-135 in an Iranian attack in western Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said it shot down the aircraft "in defence of our country's sovereignty and airspace," Reuters reported.
What is the KC-135 Stratotanker?
The KC-135 Stratotanker is a military aircraft powered by four turbofan engines mounted under swept wings and used mainly for aerial refuelling. The aircraft has a cargo deck above the refuelling system, allowing it to carry both passengers and equipment, and is used to transfer fuel to other aircraft mid-air. It has been part of the US Air Force's operations for more than 60 years.
The aircraft allows fighter jets, bombers and other military planes to stay in the air longer and travel greater distances. It also supports aircraft from the US Navy, Marine Corps and allied countries.
The KC-135 is based on Boeing's 367-80 design, which also led to the development of the commercial Boeing 707 passenger aircraft. Hundreds of KC-135 aircraft remain in service with the US Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
Other Missions
Apart from refuelling aircraft mid-air, KC-135 can also carry passengers and cargo, support aeromedical evacuation missions and transport injured or ill patients using specialised medical pallets.
During medical evacuation flights, a medical team consisting of flight nurses and technicians can be added to the crew. Depending on the configuration, it can transport around 37,600 kg of cargo or several dozen passengers.
