RAF Atlas aircraft suddenly declares mid-air emergency nearly 11,000ft over UK

RAF Atlas aircraft suddenly declares mid-air emergency nearly 11,000ft over UK The Airbus A400M Atlas took off from MOD Boscombe Down in Amesbury, Wiltshire, before sending out the emergency code in mid-air An RAF aircraft has declared an emergency on board during a flight from a military base. The Airbus A400M Atlas took off from MOD Boscombe Down in Amesbury, Wiltshire, just before 2pm today, before sending out the 7700 squawk code - the universal code for a general emergency - at just under 11,000ft. It is unclear why the code was issued on board flight RRR4952. The 7700 squawk code is declared by pilots when an aircraft experiences an in-flight emergency that requires immediate priority handling and assistance from air traffic controllers. Such emergencies include mechanical failures, onboard safety threats, medical emergencies or unclear or escalating situations. The code acts as a silent "Mayday" which prompts air traffic control to clear airspace and alert emergency services on the ground. The aircraft is then guided to the nearest suitable runway. According to data provided by squawk7700.com, the Airbus sent out the code at around 2.30pm. Mirror Online has approached the Ministry of Defence for comment. This is a Breaking News story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future by simply by clicking this link. You can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage.