Flight-tracking systems recorded an emergency involving a U.S. Navy helicopter while it was flying over the Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, before the aircraft disappeared from tracking screens after transmitting an emergency code.
Helicopter Transmits 7700 Emergency Code
Flight-tracking data showed that a U.S. MH-60S helicopter transmitted the emergency code 7700 while flying over shipping lanes in the Red Sea near Yanbu.
The 7700 code is internationally used in aviation to indicate a general emergency requiring immediate attention.
Sudden Drop in Helicopter Speed
Flight-path data indicated a sudden decrease in the helicopter’s speed shortly after the emergency code was activated, followed by the loss of its telemetry data.
The helicopter subsequently disappeared from publicly available tracking services, raising questions about the circumstances of the incident and the fate of the crew on board.
U.S. Aircraft Searches Last Known Location
Following the helicopter’s disappearance from tracking systems, a U.S. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft headed toward the area where the helicopter was last detected off the coast of Yanbu.
The nature of the emergency that prompted the helicopter to transmit the distress code remains unclear. There is also no confirmed information indicating whether the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction or was involved in an accident.
No Official Statement
The U.S. Navy and U.S. Central Command have not issued an official statement on the incident so far, and no details have been released regarding the number of people aboard the helicopter or their condition.
The circumstances surrounding the helicopter’s disappearance remain unclear pending further information from U.S. authorities regarding search operations and their findings.
