A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker issued a distress signal of 7700.

Reports are coming in of a 7700 distress signal from a US refueling aircraft. The KC-135R Stratotanker was taking off from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which has been repeatedly hit during the active phase of the war against Iran.

Some time later, while over the Mediterranean Sea, the aircraft, call sign REACH 717, activated the aforementioned 7700 signal and began an emergency course change. According to preliminary reports, it was heading for Germany but was forced to land at Chania Airport on the Greek island of Crete.

At this time, there are no official comments regarding the reason for the emergency signal and the emergency landing in Crete.

For reference: Code 7700 is a standard general emergency signal. It doesn't necessarily indicate a disaster, but it does require priority landing and the attention of air traffic controllers.

It's entirely possible that a technical malfunction aboard the air tanker caused the emergency landing. There have been no reports of any attack at this time.

As a reminder, Iranian forces previously destroyed and damaged several American KC-135 Stratotankers, including refueling aircraft, which were at the time located at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Comments

[alexputnik17]

A 135R Stratotanker took off from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

The machinations of the boys in slippers?

[Mini Mokik]

No, the striped whales just felt sick, and they like priorities. So they warned everyone in advance.

[alexboguslavski]

The guys in slippers are out of business, just like Iran. Where would they come from in the Mediterranean?

[Krasnoyarsk]

Quote: alexputnik17

A 135R Stratotanker took off from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

The machinations of the boys in slippers?

Soon, the news will be on VO about the Stratotanker's commander having a runny nose and the co-pilot sneezing twice.
But for some reason, the articles in the "Politics" and "Economics" columns are not allowed to be discussed. Why?

[Couch analyst]

No, it's more serious. The pilot developed diarrhea, and the toilet paper unexpectedly ran out.

[Adrey]

Grandpa is tired of working... Or maybe his battle wounds are taking their toll.

[alexboguslavski]

They say he's 66 years old. (What else do you need to make sure a comment isn't short and, most importantly, conveys meaning?)

[ALCA056000]

Stop getting into conspiracy theories... it's all very simple - the toilet is clogged, that's all

[TermNachTer]

Well, considering most of these ships are already approaching 50, there's nothing particularly surprising. They should be heading to Davis-Monthan, and instead, they're being taken away. Yesterday, X reported that one Stratotanker was being transferred from Davis-Monthan to Tinker for restoration.

[Nexcom]

There's a lot of stuff stored there, and in good conditions. Getting it back to flying condition isn't a problem.

[TermNachTer]

The airframe's lifespan remains the same, regardless of the climate. Furthermore, various rubber bands and plastics don't handle the heat well in 45°C (104°F) sun.

[Nexcom]

The rubber bands and other stuff will be replaced. And the glider—it seems like it doesn't use up its lifespan just by standing around...

[TermNachTer]

The resource is also expended on the ground - the wing is almost 20 m long, there are two engines underneath it - the lever is not small, the load on the wing is constant.
P.S. They write on "X" that literally a few hours after the ceasefire, four Chinese Yun-20 aircraft landed in Iran. They were carrying about 200 tons of some important cargo.

[Nexcom]

I see ...

Well, if the Chinese helped the Persians in some way, that would be great.

I hope they didn't bring Chinese consumer goods...

[TermNachTer]

Carrying consumer goods on military aircraft is considered bad manners))) I assume they brought something small and light, perhaps electronics.

[alexboguslavski]

Some time later, while over the Mediterranean Sea, the aircraft with the call sign REACH 717 turned on the aforementioned signal 7700 and began an emergency course change.

Iran's alibi is that it's too far away, a NATO miscommunication. Or, even more simply, the KC-135's engines fail in severe turbulence.

[Nexcom]

...a pro-Iranian seagull flew into the engine. These birds do such things that it's just mind-boggling.

[faiver]

The plane is a few years old, so it's not surprising, but I'm still happy for the Americans - I hope they break more things...

[Nexcom]

The Americans can fly B52s with corrugated fuselage and still not make a sound—there were photos on VO. Even ours don't stoop to that level, and the Americans don't care...

[alexputnik17]

Quote: alexboguslavski

The guys in slippers are out of business, just like Iran. Where would they come from in the Mediterranean?

He must land there, he took off from SA...