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The F-15 Eagle, a twin-engined, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft used by the US Air Force, took off from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England this morning.

The fighter jet – described as the backbone of the US Air Force’s air superiority – declared an emergency off the north-east coast of Norfolk, in East Anglia.

A spokesman for RAF Lakenheath told Daily Star Online the F-15 suffered a “mechanical issue” and was forced to land.

The spokesman said: “The aircraft experienced a mechanical issue which required it to return to RAF Lakenheath, and it landed safely at approximately 9.50am.

“Our aircrews are trained for countless scenarios like this, and their safety was never in question.”

(Image: TWITTER)

(Image: TWITTER)

A "squawk7700" was declared, meaning the pilot flagged up an “urgency” or “distress” situation.

All air traffic control stations in the area are alerted if an aircraft resets its transponder to the emergency squawk7700 code.

Aircraft with 7700 set on their transponder send detailed location information but do not reveal the cause of the emergency.

“Reporting an inflight emergency, or ‘squawking 7700’ is the aircrew's way of telling air traffic control agencies that something out of the ordinary has occurred,” the RAF Lakenheath spokesman said.

Flying at an altitude of 7,500ft, the McDonnell Douglas jet flew north-east towards Norway through the North Sea, flight trackers show.

But the £20milion ($29million) jet, traveling at speeds of 357mph, turned back towards south-east England, where RAF Lakenheath is based.

The apparent fault may prove embarrassing for the US Air Force, who boast their F-15s have a win-to-loss ratio of 104 to 0.

RAF Lakenheath hosts US Air Force units and personnel, including the 48th Fighter Wing.

(Image: WIKIPEDIA)

The US Air Force regularly performs military exercises in conjunction with RAF and NATO aircraft off the coasts of Britain and Europe.

The F-15 entered service in 1976 and is fitted with an array of air-to-air weaponry, including advanced medium-range missiles.

The aircraft is predominantly used by the US Air Force as well as the air forces of Saudi Arabia, Israel and Japan.

The jet is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat.