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11h ago

Hegseth’s C-32A Diverts to U.K. After Cockpit Windshield Crack

Officials say the crew followed standard emergency procedures, descending to a precautionary altitude before landing safely at RAF Mildenhall.

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 aircraft departed Brussels after NATO defense meetings and broke off its transatlantic return to the U.S. when the crack was detected.
  • Open-source flight data showed a 7700 emergency squawk and a rapid descent to about 10,000 feet southwest of Ireland.
  • The U.S. Air Force Boeing C-32A, operated by the 89th Airlift Wing, diverted to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and landed without incident.
  • Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said everyone aboard was safe, and Pete Hegseth posted that he was fine after the landing.
  • The cause is under investigation, with outlets noting a similar C-32 cockpit window issue earlier this year and reports indicating a backup aircraft diverted to Mildenhall to continue the trip.