A KC-135 Stratotanker landed safely at RAF Mildenhall, England, at 1:20 a.m. on April 29, about one hour after experiencing an in-flight emergency, according to a base release. No injuries were reported. The tanker, which had taken off from NAS Souda Bay, Greece, en route to Mildenhall, was about three hours into its flight plan when it experienced a “flight control-related malmfunction.” Despite some reports claiming the aircraft disappeared from radar, the flight crew and aircraft remained under air traffic control authority throughout the mission, states the release. “At no time did the controlling authority query the crew about a loss of radar contact,” it continues. “Safety is paramount to the success of our mission. We continuously train to high standards and have established flight manual procedures in place to deal with emergencies of this nature. The Air Force’s stringent safety standards help ensure the well-being of our people and the communities we interact with,” states the release.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.