A military airbus issued a ‘squawk’ emergency signal while flying over the UK at 5,000ft. The RAF plane took off from RAF Brize Norton at 4.17pm on Thursday, with flight tracks providing evidence that it made a series of circles around Cheltenham, Gloucester.
During the two hours it was in the sky, the Atlas C1 sent a 7700 signal, which is used to alert air traffic control that there is an emergency on board. A 7700 code usually means a problem with the plane, according to Daily Express.
It comes just days after an RAF Typhoon fighter jet was forced to turn around and return to base after admitting a ‘scream’. An RAF Coningsby spokesman said the pilot reported fumes in the cockpit and landed safely.
READ MORE: Huge USAF B52 bomber heads to Germany from UK as drills heat up
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire is the largest RAF base in the country. Atlas C1 aircraft carriers are capable of carrying a payload of 37 tons over 2,000 nautical miles and can reach altitudes of 40,000 feet.
The planes can accommodate 116 fully equipped soldiers, as well as a Chinook helicopter or nine pallets and 54 passengers.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: ‘Today a wildcat helicopter was on a routine sortie over Somerset levels by a qualified test pilot. During this pre-planned flight, a test transponder routine has been performed.”
Keep up to date with the latest news with our email alerts straight to your inbox. Register here.
