Pentagon chief's plane diverted to UK

A plane carrying U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft's windshield, the Pentagon said, adding the Pentagon chief was safe.

"The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said.

Hegseth was returning from a brief trip to Brussels. No members of the Pentagon press corps were traveling with him, as was regular practice under previous defense secretaries.

Earlier this year, a US air force plane carrying Marco Rubio, secretary of state, to Munich was forced to return to Washington after experiencing a mechanical problem.