Stamer’s ‘Defensive’ US bomber declares emergency over Southampton after bombing the shit out of Iranian civilians
Tue 2:32 pm +00:00, 24 Mar 2026A huge US Air Force bomber has reportedly declared an in-flight emergency while travelling over England’s south coast today. The B-52H Stratofortress was observed circling at approximately 10,000 feet just east of Southampton when the crew transmitted a Squawk 7700 code, which is the international signal for a general emergency, before beginning a steady descent, AirLive.net reported.
The B-52 is part of a Bomber Task Force (BTF) currently based at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which is used by the US Air Force as a main forward base in Europe. The aircraft is now returning to its primary deployment hub at RAF Fairford.
RAF Fairford is often used for NATO exercises and long-range missions across Europe and Africa. It also has one of the longest runways in the UK – strong enough to support large aircraft like the B-52.
Last week, ministers agreed to let the US use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
PM Keir Starmer previously granted the US permission only for “defensive” action against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
The first US bomber landed at RAF Fairford on Friday, March 6, as earlier this month the UK had given the US permission to use British bases for specific defensive operations.
At the time, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “I can also confirm to the House that, having given the US the go-ahead to use British bases for specific defensive operations into Iran last Sunday, the first US bomber landed at RAF Fairford on Friday”.
He also reiterated that these missions are to destroy Iranian missiles at source and are in accordance with international law.
www.msn.com
