Four-star General David Petraeus collapsed on live TV during a Senate hearing. The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan had to be escorted from the room.

The drama unfolded as Senator John McCain was voicing concern about the progress of the war in Afghanistan.

There was a spontaneous burst of applause for Petraeus as he returned a few minutes later, and joked about the incident.

"I felt a little light headed there. It wasn't Senator McCain's questions I assure you," he said.

General Petraeus was fine after his fainting spell, but the hearing was adjourned just to be safe.