US Air Force E-3B Sentry issues emergency signal near Strait of Hormuz

A Boeing E-3B Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft operated by the United States Air Force issued an emergency signal near the Strait of Hormuz, according to flight-tracking data cited by RIA Novosti.

The aircraft appeared on radar overnight on August 20 with the 7700 transponder code already activated. The code indicates a general in-flight emergency.

The aircraft subsequently descended from an altitude of about 6,700 meters to approximately 5,400 meters and flew from the area of the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz inland over the Arabian Peninsula.

The Boeing E-3B Sentry involved in the incident is reportedly 46 years old.

Three US aerial refuelling aircraft were also operating in the airspace near the Strait of Hormuz and over areas of the United Arab Emirates at the time.

By Tamilla Hasanova