 |
| US B-52 Bomber Emits Emergency Code while Flying in the British Sky (pict Of Illustration) |
LONDON - A United States B-52 nuclear-capable bomber issued an emergency code as it roamed British skies on Tuesday. The US Air Force plane, codenamed SPICY22, took off from British air force base RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire in a circle after issuing emergency code Squawk 7700.
It is suspected that this was done because one of the bomber's engines failed. Residents near Gloucester airfield described the 'very loud' roar of the bomber as it flew over the city as quoted by the Daily Mail, Wednesday (14/9/2022).
The B-52 bombers were deployed to Fairford this year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The aircraft have regularly been used in training and reconnaissance missions in Europe alongside other NATO powers.
After briefly returning to the US, the bombers returned to Fairford in August and remain based there. In addition to B-52 bombers, F35 and U2 spy planes were also seen arriving at the airfield earlier this year.
The latter can fly above 70,000 feet and is used for intelligence gathering. While the plane mentioned earlier is based in Lakenheath.