Donald Trump's Secretary of War has been forced to make an "unscheduled landing" in the United Kingdom after a "crack" appeared on his aircraft's windshield.

Pete Hegseth's aircraft declared an emergency and diverted to an RAF base in the UK.

The Boeing C-32A, a military version of the Boeing 757, was flying to Washington DC from Brussels, following Mr Hegseth's appearance at a Nato meeting for defence ministers.

However, it was forced at land at RAF Mildenhall after emitting a Squawk 7700 code indicating a general emergency.

Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Sean Parnell confirmed Mr Hegseth's plane made an unscheduled landing earlier this evening.

"On the way back to the United States from Nato's defence ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth's plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield," Mr Parnell said.

"The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe."