What counts as an emergency squawk
A squawk is the four-digit code a pilot dials into the aircraft’s transponder. Three codes are reserved worldwide for trouble, and this page lists any aircraft broadcasting one of them:
- 7700, general emergency. The crew has declared an emergency: a sick passenger, an engine problem, a pressurization issue, a bird strike, smoke or a fuel concern. It gets the aircraft priority from air traffic control.
- 7600, lost communications. The radios have failed. The pilots follow set procedures, and controllers keep other traffic clear.
- 7500, unlawful interference. This is reserved for hijacking, but almost every 7500 seen in public data is a slip of the finger that is fixed within a minute or two.
How to read this page calmly
On a typical day a handful of aircraft squawk 7700 somewhere in US airspace. Most are precautionary: the crew wants a straight-in approach and fire trucks standing by just in case. A diversion for a medical emergency on board is one of the most common reasons. Squawking 7700 doesn’t mean an aircraft is about to crash. It means the system is doing what it was designed to do.
Please don’t share screenshots of an emergency squawk with speculation about what is happening. There are real people on board and real families watching. The facts usually come out later through the airline or the FAA.
Why a squawk might not appear here
An aircraft can be in trouble without squawking 7700, for example when the crew simply declares an emergency on the radio and keeps its assigned code. An aircraft can also drop out of coverage over water or mountains, and a code can clear as soon as the crew is talking to ATC. Our list reflects what the transponders broadcast, refreshed about every 15 seconds. For the full history of any flight, open it on airplanes.live.
See also: all squawk codes, how to read flight data, and frequently asked questions.
Questions
Does squawk 7700 mean a plane is going to crash?
No. Squawk 7700 means the crew has declared an emergency and wants priority handling. Most 7700 flights are precautionary or medical and end with a normal landing.
How many emergency squawks happen in the US each day?
Typically a handful of 7700 squawks appear across US airspace on a given day. 7600 radio failures are rarer, and genuine 7500 hijack codes are extremely rare. Most 7500s in public data are mis-set and quickly corrected.
Why did the emergency disappear from the list?
Crews often switch back to their assigned code once ATC is handling the situation, and aircraft drop off the list after landing or when they leave receiver coverage.