US Air Force plane declares mid-air emergency while flying over Scotland

A US Air Force C17 plane has declared a mid-air emergency while flying over Scotland.

The Boeing C-17A Globemaster III took off from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire at around 9.15am today.

During the journey, the plane squawked a 7700 code, which immediately alerts Air Traffic Control to an aircraft in distress.

During the journey, the plane squawked a 7700 alert (Supplied/Flightradar24)

Flight tracking website, Flightradar24 showed the aircraft declare a general emergency while south of New Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Although there was no set destination on the site for some time, the plane appeared to be circling over South Ayrshire for a while.

Aircraft and Satellite Tracking SkyScanWorld say there was a landing gear issue, which caused the aircraft to declare an emergency.

The aircraft has now safely landed at Prestwick Airport.

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