The emergency comes amid increased tensions with Russia.
RAF Typhoon jet (Image: Getty)
An RAF Typhoon jet sent an emergency signal flying over Scotland shortly after departing from Lossiemouth on Wednesday. The RAF Typhoon FGR4 ZK323 transmitted a Squawk 7700 code, the international signal for a general emergency, while flying over Northern Scotland this afternoon.
It is unknown at this time what prompted the emergency squawk. The military aircraft took off from RAF Lossiemouth – the only operational RAF station in Scotland – earlier this afternoon. Flight charts show the Eurofighter Typhoon then circled numerous times above the North Sea.
Flight charts show the plane circling over the North Sea (Image: Flightradar24)
RAF Lossiemouth is one of the UK’s two primary operating bases for the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4. It is also one of two RAF stations responsible for maintaining Quick Reaction Alert (QRA), helping to safeguard UK airspace.
Squawk 7700 is a universal aviation transponder code set by pilots to indicate a general emergency to Air Traffic Control. It immediately signals distress on radar displays, allowing for priority handling, emergency service preparation, and cleared airspace.
It can be used for a range of concerns, including:
- Engine failure
- Medical issue
- Loss of cabin pressure
- Severe weather/ system damage
The Typhoon FGR4 ZK323 is a specific, frontline multi-role combat aircraft which is often scrambled from UK bases to intercept unidentified or hostile aircraft approaching British airspaces.
Lossiemouth is the only operational RAF station in Scotland (Image: Getty)
The incident comes amid esculating tensions between the west and Russia. Earlier today, Vladimir Putin claimed it is a “military secret” whether or not Russia is weighing up possible strikes on British military sites.
He added that “any military facilities in Ukraine are our legitimate target, British or otherwise”. This follows Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, warning Britain that the nation risks taking the conflict to a new level.
She told a Moscow news briefing that Britain and France were “playing with fire” by supplying sensitive missile technology to Ukraine.
This follows a number of suspected sabotage incidents in Europe. On Tuesday, Germany blamed Russia for an attempted attack using an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport last month.
On August 4, a drone carrying an explosive device was found at the airport. It failed to explode, and investigators suspect a second drone collided with a cargo aircraft nearby.