Emergency Transponder Squawk Codes

by Jason Schappert

One of the biggest falters in emergencies is the pilots failure to properly communicate the emergency. Knowing the emergency transponder squawk codes can help ATC evaluate your situation and notify help sooner or aid in getting you to the nearest airport.

Below are the 3 squawk codes every pilot should commit to memory:

7500 – Hijack
7600 – Lost Comm (radio failure)
7700 – Emergency

An easy way to remember this: 75 taken alive, 76 technical glitch, 77 going to heaven.

Tagged as: Flight Training

  • Dean
    just came across this. great way to remember them. The memory aid I was taught went like "Hi Jack, can't talk now, I'm on fire" for 7500, 7600 and 7700. The "I'm on fire" part sometimes got substituted out with other emergencies, but I found the fire one most memorable. Only problem with mine was when I was just starting flying, I thought 7700 was solely restricted to fires, until someone told me otherwise.
  • Wow, I love your reminder! That's freaking awesome! (For those of us who are going to Heaven).
  • Leave it to pat to come up with the unthinkable! haha!

    Albert, Great addition!! I always love hearing how other people remember and learn things!

    -Jason
  • Great blog with lots of useful and interesting information thanks.
    My instructor taught me "ICE" for transponder codes.
    In Case of an Emergency - ICE
    I - Interference (someone interferes that is Hijack - 7500
    C - Communications problems - 7600
    E - Emergency - 7700

    I guess it is important to use what works for you.
    Cheers
    Al
  • Always a good reminder. You're memory aid is sure a lot better than my method. "75 guys hijack an airplane, then they destroy the radios, now you've got a real emergency!" *shrugs*
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