What is the transponder code for emergency?

The transponder code for emergency situations is 7700. This code is universally recognized in aviation as a means for pilots to indicate that they are facing a emergency situation, which alerts air traffic control and other aircraft around them that immediate assistance may be required.

When a pilot sets their transponder to 7700, it communicates to air traffic services that there is a significant emergency occurring onboard, which could range from technical failures to serious medical issues among the crew or passengers. This code overrides any other assignments and allows for priority handling of the aircraft in distress.

The other codes serve different specific purposes: 7500 is associated with unlawful interference or hijacking, 7600 is used to indicate a radio communication failure, and 7800 does not correspond to any standard aviation emergency code. Each of these serves an important role in aviation safety, but when it comes to signaling a general emergency, 7700 is the appropriate choice.