US EditionUS B-52 Bomber Returning to RAF Fairford Issues Emergency Signal
The B-52H bomber declared a general emergency due to suspected depressurisation and landed safely after an 18-minute flight, officials said.
- On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, a United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, registration 60-0060, declared an in-flight emergency over England, issuing a 7700 signal before landing safely at RAF Fairford at 9.38am.
- Fairford serves as the main European forward operating base for the Bomber Task Force, which frequently hosts long-range NATO missions and training flights across the continent.
- Flight data indicates the aircraft circled at around 10,000 feet before beginning a "controlled descent" following reports suggesting a depressurisation issue caused the emergency.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously granted the U.S. permission to use Fairford for "defensive" operations, though the authorization came amid a souring relationship with President Donald Trump.
- Fairford currently hosts a fleet of American military aircraft including 12 B-1B Lancers, capable of hosting all three types of long-range bombers in the U.S. Air Force.
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Stroud News & Journal
Wilts & Gloucestershire StandardUS bomber from RAF Fairford declares emergency while soaring over UK
An American bomber based in the Cotswolds declared an emergency incident over the UK, according to some reports.
US B-52 Stratofortress bomber issues distress call over UK airspace: Was an Iranian missile the reason?
A B-52H Stratofortress of the United States Air Force issued a distress call while flying over the United Kingdom on Tuesday morning, according to flight data. Data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft sent a 7700 emergency code near Bristol. It later landed safely at RAF Fairford around 9.40 am. The cause remains unclear. The bomber had taken off at 9.20 am and returned within 18 minutes. There has been no comment from the Pentagon or the UK …
Oxford Mail
US bomber from Cotswolds declares emergency UK incident
An American bomber based in the Cotswolds declared an emergency incident over the UK, according to some reports.
A US B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber declared an emergency while flying over the United Kingdom on Tuesday. According to the Airlive.net portal, the crew sent out the Squawk code 7700 - the international signal for a general emergency - and then began a descent.
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