A U.S. Air Force C-32 carrying War Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior department officials made an emergency landing in the United Kingdom on Wednesday afternoon due to a cracked windshield, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said.

The incident occurred as Hegseth’s delegation was returning to the United States from the NATO Ministers of Defense Meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

Shortly before 2 p.m. Eastern Time, flight-tracking data indicated the aircraft had reversed course over the Atlantic and descended to a lower altitude.

“The Air Force C-32 carrying Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared an emergency over the Atlantic, dropped to 10,000 feet, and now reversed course to the UK,” conservative journalist Nick Sortor posted on X.

“Plane is squawking 7700, which could mean an engine failure, medical issue, onboard fire, or another general emergency,” he added.

🚨 JUST IN: The Air Force C-32 carrying Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared an emergency over the Atlantic, dropped to 10,000 feet, and now reversed course to the UK

Plane is squawking 7700, which could mean an engine failure, medical issue, onboard fire, or another general… pic.twitter.com/1moPjlggDP

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 15, 2025

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At approximately 2:10 p.m. Eastern, Parnell confirmed the diversion and attributed it to damage discovered on the flight deck glazing.

“On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defense 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 said. He noted that the crew executed standard emergency procedures and that the aircraft landed safely.

“All good. Thank god. Continue mission!” Hegseth wrote on X following the landing.

All good. Thank God. Continue mission! https://t.co/kCMmfOvHLX

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 15, 2025

Pentagon officials said all passengers and crew were safe and that maintenance inspections would determine next steps for onward travel.

No injuries were reported.

The Air Force did not immediately release details on the age of the aircraft, the specific flight routing, or the timeline for returning the delegation to the United States.

C-32 aircraft—military variants of the Boeing 757—are routinely used for senior government travel and are equipped to operate with enhanced communications and security features.

The C-32 crew’s descent to approximately 10,000 feet and immediate return toward the U.K. aligned with standard in-flight safety procedures after the detection of structural issues to ensure cabin conditions remain stable while the crew prepares for a precautionary landing.

Aviation emergency code 7700, referenced by Sortor, is a general alert signaling that the crew has declared an emergency and is seeking priority handling from air traffic control.

Hegseth had been in Brussels for the NATO session, which convened defense ministers from allied nations to discuss strategic priorities and emerging security issues.

The meeting, chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, is part of the alliance’s regular ministerial schedule and included agenda items on collective defense coordination, capability development, and ongoing support initiatives among member states.

NATO typically holds such meetings at least twice a year, with additional working-level engagements occurring throughout the calendar.

Following the landing, Pentagon officials indicated that contingency arrangements were being evaluated to minimize disruption to Hegseth’s schedule.

Any decision to swap aircraft or continue travel aboard the same airframe will depend on Air Force maintenance assessments and safety certifications.

The emergency landing will prompt a routine review of the incident, including inspection of the affected windshield panel, verification of pressure and temperature histories during the flight, and assessment of any contributing factors such as foreign-object impact or thermal stress.

Such reviews are standard following in-flight anomalies and are used to validate maintenance practices and inform future operational guidance.

Air Force officials emphasized that precautionary diversions are executed to preserve safety margins and that aircraft carrying senior officials are supported by established contingency protocols to ensure mission continuity.