Defence Secretary issues strongest Ukraine backing yet, declaring ‘firepower is coming’ as windshield crack forces Air Force jet down over Atlantic
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s military aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in the United Kingdom on Wednesday after a windshield crack prompted the crew to abort their trans-Atlantic flight following a high-stakes NATO summit where he delivered America’s strongest warning yet to Russia over Ukraine.
The Boeing C-32A, a military version of the Boeing 757, declared a general emergency and descended rapidly to 10,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean before diverting to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, where it landed safely at approximately 7:10 PM BST.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the incident on X, stating: “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.”
‘Firepower Is Coming’ Warning to Putin
The emergency landing came hours after Hegseth delivered his most forceful statement to date on the Ukraine conflict at NATO headquarters in Brussels, marking a significant shift from his February stance when he suggested US attention would pivot away from Europe.
Firepower is what’s coming,” Hegseth declared at the meeting of European defence leaders, backing NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s call for increased military support to Ukraine. “If there is no path to peace in the short term… the US War Department stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do.”
The Defence Secretary sent a clear message to Vladimir Putin, stating that the United States remains “clear-eyed about the fact that the most effective deterrents to Russian aggression are number one: a lethal, capable and European-led NATO, and number two: a combat credible Ukrainian military.
His comments came as NATO allies announced over £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in new commitments under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a mechanism allowing member states to purchase American weapons for Ukraine. Britain pledged to deliver 100,000 drones, whilst the Netherlands committed €90 million for Ukraine’s domestic drone production.
Mid-Air Emergency Follows Pattern
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft, using callsign SAM153, was approximately 30 minutes into its journey from Brussels to Washington DC when the emergency was declared. The plane transmitted the universal distress code 7700, indicating a general emergency, before executing a rapid descent and turning back towards British airspace.
Initial speculation suggested cabin depressurisation due to the rapid descent to 10,000 feet – the standard emergency altitude for such incidents. However, Pentagon officials later confirmed the issue was a cracked windshield, a serious but manageable aviation emergency requiring immediate landing according to standard procedures.
Hegseth himself responded to the incident on X, writing: “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!” The Defence Secretary was reportedly exploring alternative transportation options to return to Washington, with commercial flights or a replacement military aircraft being considered.
Russian Electronic Warfare Suspected
The incident adds to a concerning pattern of aviation emergencies affecting Western defence officials near Russian territory. In late September, a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen encountered GPS jamming whilst flying over Bulgaria, an act widely suspected to be the result of Russian electronic warfare.
Just weeks later, a Spanish military jet transporting Defence Minister Margarita Robles experienced similar interference near Russia’s Kaliningrad region en route to Lithuania. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps’ aircraft also faced GPS jamming during its return flight from Poland to Britain earlier this year.
Whilst no evidence currently links Wednesday’s windshield crack to hostile action, the timing – immediately following Hegseth’s strong warnings to Moscow – has raised questions amongst defence analysts. Aviation experts note that windshield cracks can occur from various causes including bird strikes, extreme temperature changes, or manufacturing defects.
Sharp Reversal on Ukraine Policy
Hegseth’s Brussels statements represent a dramatic shift from his previous position and from early Trump administration signals that suggested reduced American involvement in European security. His February visit to NATO headquarters had alarmed allies when he indicated US priorities would shift towards China and domestic concerns.
The change comes after President Trump’s controversial August meeting with Putin in Alaska, which had raised fears in Kyiv and European capitals that Washington might accommodate Moscow’s perspective on the war. However, Hegseth’s latest remarks suggest growing frustration within the administration over Russia’s continued aggression.
“Peace is achieved when you are strong, not when you shake your finger,” Hegseth told NATO ministers. “Peace comes when you have the power that your opponents respect, and I believe that’s what NATO is doing.”
The Defence Secretary drew comparisons to the recent Gaza ceasefire, suggesting Trump’s “peace through strength” approach could extend to Ukraine. “I think the world is seeing that we have a peace president… which is what we saw in Gaza and I hope we can see in Ukraine,” he said.
Tomahawk Missiles Remain Off Table
Despite speculation that Washington might provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles – weapons capable of striking targets deep inside Russia including Moscow and St Petersburg – Hegseth did not address the issue directly. NATO Secretary-General Rutte described it as a “bilateral question” between the US and Ukraine.
President Trump has floated the possibility of sending the missiles to pressure Russia into negotiations, a move the Kremlin warned would represent a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to raise the issue during his White House meeting with Trump on Friday.
The emergency landing overshadowed what had been intended as a show of Western unity against Russian aggression. Since February 2022, the United States has provided over $66.9 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, including 359 tanks, 629 armoured vehicles, 178 artillery systems, and more than 250,000 anti-tank munitions.
Pattern of Interference
The series of aviation incidents affecting Western officials has prompted increased security measures for diplomatic and military flights operating near Russian-controlled airspace. NATO officials privately acknowledge concerns about Moscow’s electronic warfare capabilities, which have advanced significantly during the Ukraine conflict.
RAF Mildenhall, where Hegseth’s plane landed, serves as a critical hub for US military aviation in Europe and maintains extensive facilities for handling emergency situations. The base has seen increased activity since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
As Hegseth awaits alternative transportation back to Washington, his emergency landing serves as a stark reminder of the heightened tensions between NATO and Russia. With his promise that “firepower is coming” for Ukraine still echoing through Brussels, the incident underscores the precarious nature of the current security environment in Europe.
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