A C-32 military aircraft carrying US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from Europe to Washington issued a "7700" distress signal over the Atlantic Ocean, according to aviation trackers and Pentagon sources. The C-32, a military version of the Boeing 757, was en route to the US following Hegseth's talks in Brussels, where he urged European allies to increase American arms purchases for Ukraine.

The "7700" signal indicates an onboard emergency, such as engine failure, a medical issue, or a fire. After the signal was issued, the plane descended to 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) and turned back toward the United Kingdom, presumably for an emergency landing. There has been no official comment from the Pentagon yet, but sources confirm that Hegseth is on board and in good condition.

This occurred amid tense negotiations within NATO, where Högseth insisted on increasing member states' aid spending for Kyiv. Earlier in October, a similar incident involving a C-32 involved the US Vice President, when a technical malfunction forced the plane to return to Washington.