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4h ago

Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Air Force Jet Diverts to U.K. After Cockpit Windshield Crack

Officials say all aboard are safe, with the aircraft now at RAF Mildenhall for inspection.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plane was forced to make an emergency landing while he was returning to the U.S. from the NAT meeting of defense ministers in Brussels on October 15, 2025.
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Overview

  • The U.S. Air Force C-32A carrying Pete Hegseth from Brussels diverted and landed at RAF Mildenhall after a crack was discovered in the cockpit windshield.
  • Open-source tracking showed the crew declared an emergency, squawked 7700, and descended to about 10,000 feet before turning toward the United Kingdom.
  • The Pentagon said the precautionary landing followed standard procedures and confirmed there were no injuries among passengers or crew.
  • The aircraft remains on the ground for inspection as officials investigate the cause, and a backup jet is expected to return Hegseth to the United States.
  • The incident occurred after Hegseth attended NATO defense ministers’ meetings in Brussels focused on Ukraine and allied air-defense posture, with similar C-32 fleet issues noted earlier this year.