What the code means
A crew sets 7600 when they can no longer transmit, receive, or both. On every radar screen that sees the aircraft, its data block is flagged as a radio failure, so controllers know why it has gone quiet.
Real radio failures in airliners are rare because they carry several radios. Many 7600 squawks come from smaller aircraft, from a stuck microphone, a wrong frequency dialled after a handoff, or a single radio that has quit.
What the crew does
Under the US rules for lost communications, a crew flying on instruments continues on the route it was cleared, flies the highest of the altitudes it was assigned, expected or required for the segment, and begins its approach close to the time it filed or was told to expect.
The rule is simple: keep flying the last clearance you were given, and let ATC work around you.
A crew flying visually simply stays visual and lands at the nearest suitable airport. Near the field, the tower can steer it with a light gun: steady green means cleared to land, flashing green means return for landing, steady red means give way and keep circling.
What controllers do
Controllers clear the airspace along the route the aircraft is expected to fly, keep trying other frequencies and ask nearby aircraft to relay. Often the problem is fixed within minutes when the crew finds a working radio or the right frequency, and the code goes back to normal.
7700, 7600, 7500 and 1200
- 7700General emergency.
Any problem the crew considers serious enough to need priority. The flight usually keeps talking to ATC.
- 7600Radio failure.
The aircraft can fly normally but cannot transmit or receive. It continues on its last clearance and lands using light signals from the tower.
- 7500Unlawful interference.
A hijacking or a threat on board. Controllers follow a separate protocol. Rare, and often set by mistake while dialling 7600 or 7700.
- 1200VFR.
Not an emergency. The default code for aircraft flying visually in the US without a controller assignment.
Recent 7600 events over the US
35 confirmed in the last 30 days, newest first. Private and general aviation aircraft are shown without callsign or registration.
- A C172 squawking 7600 70 mi from Knoxville/Maryville, TN
- An aircraft squawking 7600 near Indianapolis, IN
- An aircraft squawking 7600 80 mi from Birmingham, AL
- A P28B squawking 7600 50 mi from Louisville, KY
- A M20P squawking 7600 near Chicago, IL
- A C172 squawking 7600 near Pensacola, FL
- An aircraft squawking 7600 near Orlando, FL
- A C172 squawking 7600 near Myrtle Beach, SC
See it live on the map
Cockpit flags radio failures and other emergency codes over the US as they happen, with the track and the tower audio.
Every emergency in one feed
Open events on top, across the US or near you, with the aircraft and the airport.
The full story
Last position, altitude when it began, the timeline and a summary, updated while it is open.
A push when it is near you
Describe the alert in words: "any airliner emergency near Chicago".
