Airplane Carrying Pete Hegseth Forced to Land in U.K.

Pentagon spokesperson says a crack in the windshield forced the turnaround.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sits at a meeting with Saudi Arabia Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud. [Credit: Department of Defense/U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's airplane made an emergency landing in the U.K. on Wednesday.
  • The unscheduled landing was due to a crack in the aircraft's windshield.
  • The incident occurred while the plane was returning to the U.S. from a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels.
  • All individuals onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, are safe.
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An airplane carrying U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an emergency landing in the U.K. on Wednesday due to a crack in its windshield.

In a post on X, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the secretary’s airplane made an “unscheduled landing” on the way back to the U.S. from a NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels.

“The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe,” Parnell wrote.

Hegseth himself retweeted Parnell’s post around 2:30 p.m. EDT and wrote: “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!”

According to the BBC, the airplane was flying off the coast of Ireland when it turned back and ultimately landed at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in Suffolk. The base is mainly used by the U.S. Air Force.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crack in the aircraft’s windshield.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Pilot in aircraft
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