An RAF jet flying over Wales has transmitted an emergency code. The force's British Aerospace Hawk T2 model sent the code 7700, which typically indicates a general emergency.
A 7700 code usually means an engineering issue with the aircraft, which was tracked flying above the Caernarfon area. Flight maps indicate that its route is not known, but at the time the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 22,300 feet and travelling at around 346mph.
The RAF has two types of the Hawk in service, the T1/T1A and the T2. We reported how an American Air Force bomber plane had been spotted flying over parts of Wales last week. You can read more about that by clicking here.
READ MORE: EasyJet passengers endure 11-hour nightmare flight back to where they started
Aircraft and satellite tracking group SkyScanWorld tweeted at around 1.10pm that the aircraft had broadcast the code. There is no indication of any serious incident and the code is routinely used in aviation for a wide variety of reasons. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
The Twitter account, which has more than 14,000 followers, regularly posts about various RAF and other military aircraft flying across the world. A number of other aviation accounts also tweeted about the aircraft broadcasting the code.
Based at RAF Valley on Anglesey, the aircraft has a glass cockpit and avionics suite to provide a realistic advanced fast jet training platform, and its onboard simulation capability enables air-to-ground 'weapon drops', realistic electronic warfare training against surface-to-air missile systems and other complex operational scenarios.
All aircraft are allocated a 'squawk code' which allows for effective identification between the aircraft and air traffic control. It is a four digit number that will show up on the controller’s screen, along with flight info like altitude and air speed. Pilots enter the squawk code into the aircraft transponder and can change it to 7700 when they have a perceived emergency. This will inform any ground controllers tracking the flight who can then give the appropriate assistance.
A spokesman for the RAF said: “During a post-maintenance ‘air test’, the aircraft captain was alerted to a fault indication in the cockpit. A standard and well-rehearsed procedure cleared this indication during flight. As a further precaution though, and in accordance with standard operating practice, the aircraft captain elected to return to RAF Valley in Anglesey.”
