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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred & Adam May

Military jet issues emergency alert as plane flies over UK before landing at RAF Anglesey

A military jet issued an emergency alert as it flew over the UK this afternoon.

The jet appeared to be Beechcraft T-6 Texan II at RAF Valley Anglesey Airport in Wales.

The alert was sounded near Bangor. A second alert was issued separately for a similar plane in the same area.

Both planes appear to be grounded and initial reports suggested a possible hijacking alert had been issued.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson has since confirmed to the Mirror that a 7700 Squawk button was pressed and "all is well at RAF Valley".

The 7700 alert is a common code that can be used for even the most minor emergency and often as a precautionary measure to alert other air users.

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine jet that is typically used to train pilots.

As of 2016, the UK has 10 of these aircraft.

The RAF Valley Anglesey Airport is a flying training school.

Its website says it is "responsible for training the UK's next generation of world-class fighter pilots".

The T-6 Texan II is manufactured by Beechcroft and Textron Aviation, and the model's first flight was on July 15, 1998.

Its primary users are the United States Air Force, United States Navy, Royan Canadian Air Force, and Hellenic Air Force, it's understood.

Over 850 of the planes have been built.

An MOD spokesperson said: "A 7700 Squawk button was pressed. It happens occasionally for even the most minor emergency and often as a precautionary measure.

"You will quickly find that 7500 Squawk is for hijack not 7700."

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