US F-35 Jet Issues Distress Call Over Gulf of Oman

An American F-35 Lightning II fighter jet transmitted a distress call over the Gulf of Oman on Sunday morning, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. The aircraft reportedly changed course toward the United Arab Emirates and began losing altitude after sending the emergency code.

Tasnim, citing flight tracking data and regional reports, said the incident involved a U.S. military aircraft that activated an emergency transponder signal. The jet's trajectory shifted toward the UAE as it descended.

Separate Emergency Incidents

In a separate event last Tuesday, Tasnim reported that two American aircraft—a KC-135R Stratotanker and a Boeing KC-46 Pegasus—both transmitted the emergency code "7700" while operating over the Gulf region. The KC-135 Stratotanker faced an in-flight emergency over the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, sending a distress signal before disappearing from radar screens, according to the agency.

The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, meanwhile, reportedly transmitted its distress code while flying in Saudi airspace on its return route to Tel Aviv, Israel.