US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s jet lands in Suffolk after mid-air depressurisation issue
A US military aircraft carrying Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was forced to make an emergency landing in the United Kingdom on Wednesday evening after suffering a depressurisation issue while flying over the Atlantic.
The Boeing C-32A jet — a military variant of the Boeing 757 — had departed Brussels following a NATO defence ministers’ meeting, bound for the United States, when the crew reported a sudden technical problem involving the cockpit windscreen.
About 30 minutes into the flight, the aircraft began losing altitude and emitted an emergency transponder signal, prompting flight trackers around the world to pick up the anomaly. The pilot made the decision to divert to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, a US Air Force base used by NATO and allied forces, where the plane landed safely at around 7:10pm UK time.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the aircraft had developed a crack in its windscreen, leading to a precautionary descent and diversion. “On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defence Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield,” Parnell wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
He added: “The plane landed based on standard procedures, and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe.”
Hegseth himself also took to social media shortly after the incident, writing simply: “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!”
The quick reaction from the crew prevented what could have been a far more serious in-flight emergency. Aircraft depressurisation, especially when linked to a cracked cockpit window, can lead to rapid loss of cabin pressure — one of the most potentially dangerous mechanical failures in aviation.
According to aviation tracking site Airlive, the C-32A experienced a “depressurisation issue” consistent with a windscreen fault. Once the aircraft touched down in Suffolk, ground crews and safety engineers carried out a full inspection while passengers, including senior Pentagon officials, were transferred to a secure area of the base.
The incident drew comparisons with a similar event in February 2025, when a US Air Force aircraft carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Jim Risch was forced to return to Washington DC after a cockpit windscreen issue.
Hegseth had been returning from Brussels, where he joined fellow NATO defence ministers — including the UK’s John Healey — for talks on European security, Ukraine, and transatlantic defence cooperation. His presence in Europe marked another high-profile overseas visit since his appointment as Defence Secretary earlier this year.
Eyewitnesses near RAF Mildenhall reported seeing the aircraft approach at low altitude, escorted by air traffic control assistance before making a smooth landing. There were no injuries reported among passengers or crew.
Military aviation analysts noted that while such windscreen cracks are rare, they are not unheard of. The C-32A, part of the US Air Force’s VIP transport fleet, is routinely used to carry senior government and military officials — including the Vice President and the First Lady — and is subject to strict maintenance protocols.
One former Air Force pilot told Sky News: “If a crack appears in the cockpit windscreen, depressurisation becomes a real risk. The procedure is always to descend to a safe altitude and divert immediately. It’s not something you take chances with.”
The Pentagon has not confirmed whether Hegseth’s onward travel to Washington will be delayed while the aircraft undergoes repairs, but officials said he is expected to continue his schedule as planned.
The incident serves as a reminder that even with state-of-the-art military aircraft, no flight is entirely immune to the perils of physics and wear — though in this case, the swift decision to divert ensured the safety of one of the most senior figures in the US government