Plane Carrying War Secretary Pete Hegseth Makes Emergency Landing In U.K.

The plane carrying United States War Secretary Pete Hegseth diverted to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, making an emergency landing, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed.

Hegseth was returning to the United States from a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, with other NATO defense ministers when the plane made the “unscheduled landing.” Parnell shared the news in a post on X, making it clear that the situation was related to an equipment failure rather than anything more complicated, and said everyone on board was safe.

“On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield. The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe,” he said.

On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield. The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including…

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) October 15, 2025

“All good. Thank God. Continue mission!” Hegseth posted shortly afterward.

All good. Thank God. Continue mission! https://t.co/kCMmfOvHLX

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 15, 2025

Early reports on the situation came from freelance journalist Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) and offered additional details.

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“The aircraft carrying Secretary Hegseth left Belgium and later declared an emergency (#7700) turning around over the Atlantic, heading back to the UK,” Leyden posted.

The aircraft carrying Secretary Hegseth left Belgium and later declared an emergency (#7700) turning around over the Atlantic, heading back to the UK. https://t.co/yd6AezOkRj pic.twitter.com/E3jZpdNkoF

— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) October 15, 2025

Leyden followed that with a report stating that Hegseth’s plane — and one other that had also diverted — landed a short time later at RAF Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force station near Suffolk, England.

“Secretary Hegseth’s SAM 153 aircraft has landed at RAF Mildenhall. A C-17 backup aircraft that accompanied him to Belgium also diverted to Mildenhall and will likely pick him up and bring him back to the USA,” he posted.

Secretary Hegseth’s SAM 153 aircraft has landed at RAF Mildenhall. A C-17 backup aircraft that accompanied him to Belgium also diverted to Mildenhall and will likely pick him up and bring him back to the USA. pic.twitter.com/jHha4OBKPh

— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) October 15, 2025