A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker has reportedly gone missing over Qatari airspace while en route to a military base, moments after transmitting a 7700 emergency signal and vanishing from radar. The aircraft, which took off from Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, sent the distress code near Iranian territory, sparking concerns over whether it faced a technical failure or fell victim to electronic jamming common in the volatile Middle East. Although flight tracking data showed the tanker circling before descent, U.S. defense officials have yet to confirm a crash or provide an official statement on the status of the long-serving military workhorse. The incident is particularly sensitive given past regional hostilities, including a similar aircraft loss in Iraq last year, and search operations are currently underway to determine the fate of the “flying petrol pump” and its crew.