ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT – A United States Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III declared an in-flight emergency on Saturday while operating off the coast of Egypt, triggering a rapid descent and an immediate diversion back toward Europe.
Incident Timeline
The aircraft, bearing registration 05-5145, departed from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany earlier today. After approximately three hours and 30 minutes of routine flight at a cruising altitude of 31,000 feet, the crew transmitted a Squawk 7700 code, the international signal for a general emergency.
At the time of the declaration, the heavy-lift transport plane was positioned over the Mediterranean Sea, just north of Alexandria, Egypt.
Diversion and Descent
Flight tracking data website Flightradar24 indicates that immediately following the emergency signal, the Globemaster performed a sharp U-turn. The crew initiated a rapid descent, leveling off at 24,000 feet.
Potential Factors
While the U.S. Air Force has not yet released an official statement regarding the nature of the emergency, the decision to descend to 24,000 feet and return toward Europe suggests a non-critical but significant technical issue.
The aircraft is currently being monitored by Mediterranean air traffic control as it heads north. It remains unclear if the C-17 will attempt to return to its origin in Germany or land at a closer NATO facility, such as Souda Bay in Greece or Sigonella in Italy.
UPDATES
- According to ADSB data, the aircraft is diverting to Ramstein, Germany.
