RAF plane declares mid-air emergency above Scotland shortly after takeoff

A Royal Air Force plane declared a mid-air emergency shortly after takeoff on Thursday morning.

The Poseidon P-8 plane issued a squawk 7700 emergency alert near its base at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray just after 7am.

The aircraft was circled the area before returning to Lossiemouth after crew identified a minor technical issue.

The RAF’s Poseidon P-8 plane is a patrol aircraft used for anti-submarine warfare.

Pilots issue a squawk 7700 code to signal a general emergency, notifying both Air Traffic Control on the ground and nearby aircraft.

An RAF spokesperson said: “An RAF Poseidon aircraft departed RAF Lossiemouth this morning.

“Shortly after taking off, the crew identified a minor technical issue and, as a precaution, returned to base with no further complications.”

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country