RAF Chinook squawks 7700 emergency code near London; cause unknown
An RAF Chinook helicopter (SHF482) squawked the 7700 general emergency code at about 2,000ft near London at 10.15pm on 7 October. The cause is unknown and the RAF has been asked for details.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2An RAF Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook helicopter, callsign SHF482, declared an emergency near London at 10.15pm on Wednesday 7 October. Daily MirrorL “The aircraft , a Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook (SHF482) declared the emergency at 10.15pm on Wednesday, October 7.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “The aircraft, a Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Chinook (SHF482) declared the emergency at 10.15pm on Wednesday, October 7.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2It sent the transponder code 7700 at about 2,000 feet. Daily MirrorL “It squawked 7700 at 2,000 feet near London.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “It declared a general emergency at around 2,000 feet near London.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2The code 7700 is a universal "squawk code" that signals a general emergency and alerts nearby air traffic controllers. Daily MirrorL “Squawking 7700 also notifies all nearby air traffic controllers in the surrounding areas of the situation with the flight.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “Squawking 7700 also notifies all nearby air traffic controllers in the surrounding areas of the situation with the flight.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Mixed · 2The details of the emergency are unknown, and both the Daily Mirror and the Daily Express said they had asked the RAF why it was declared. Daily MirrorL “The details of the emergency are currently unknown.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “The Express has contacted the RAF for further details on why the emergency was declared.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2The Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter that can carry up to 24,000 pounds of internal cargo or sling-load nearly 26,000 pounds externally. Daily MirrorL “It can carry up to 24,000 pounds of internal cargo or sling-load nearly 26,000 pounds externally.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “It can carry up to 24,000 pounds of internal cargo or sling-load nearly 26,000 pounds externally.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets set the event against a recent counter-terror investigation at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, after vans were found by the base on 27 September; they do not link the Chinook emergency to it. Daily MirrorL “Counter terror police opened an investigation after vans were found by the base on September 27.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “Counter terror police opened an investigation after vans were found by the base.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Mixed · 2Five British nationals in their mid-20s arrested near the base, and a sixth man, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national arrested last week, have been released on bail. Daily MirrorL “Five British nationals, all in their mid-20s, who were arrested near the base have since been released on bail.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “A sixth man, a dual UK-Iranian national aged 25, was arrested last week.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2The Fairford incident is believed to be linked to Iran; US aircraft were withdrawn from the base, while No10 has insisted the base is safe. Daily MirrorL “Since the incident, No10 has insisted RAF Fairford is safe despite the US withdrawing fighter jets from the base due to security concerns.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Daily ExpressR “US military planes have all been removed from the base 'urgently' following the incident, that is believed to have been 'linked to Iran'.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Short breaking item on the squawk code, followed by the Fairford terror investigation as context.
- Emphasis
- Links the emergency in time to the Fairford incident.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say the two events are connected.
- Charged language
- “'terror' incident”
- For example
-
“The emergency comes shortly after a 'terror' incident at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire.” — Daily Mirror
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Near-identical item on the squawk code, with Fairford as background.
- Emphasis
- Frames the Fairford incident as a recent focus on the RAF.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say the two events are connected.
- Charged language
- “'terror' incident”
- For example
-
“There has been a focus on the RAF in recent weeks, following at 'terror' incident at the Fairford base in Gloucestershire on September 27.” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Chinook SHF482 squawked 7700 near London at about 10.15pm on 7 October at around 2,000ft.
- The reason for the emergency is not known.
- Both outlets contacted the RAF for details.
Left1 article
-
RAF emergency declars near London as Chinook helicopter sends 7700 ‘squawk code'
Neutral Factual squawk-code report that adds the Fairford investigation as context ('shortly after').
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
RAF helicopter declares emergency near London as jet sends 7700 ‘squawk code'
Neutral Near-identical factual report; Fairford is presented as background to recent focus on the RAF.
- 8 Oct 02:37 First Daily MirrorL RAF emergency declars near London as Chinook helicopter sends 7700 ‘squawk code'
- 8 Oct 04:34 +1h 57m Daily ExpressR RAF helicopter declares emergency near London as jet sends 7700 ‘squawk code'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.