Afghanistan: US Air Force transport plane rescues 640 Afghans in mercy flight from Kabul
The crew of a US military cargo plane, normally authorised to transport 134 soldiers, answered the prayers of 640 Afghans.
A US Air Force transport plane has taken off with 640 relieved Afghans on board amid scenes of panic and desperation at Kabul’s international airport.
The C-17 Globemaster II cargo jet has been in military service by the US and its allies for nearly 30 years and is capable of carrying 77,564kg (171,000 pounds) of cargo but is only designed for 134 soldiers.
However, the captain and crew of the plane, attached to the Delaware-based 436th Airlift Wing, were overwhelmed by the number of Afghans onboard and made the decision to leave with a full load of human cargo rather than force people off the flight late on Sunday local time.
JUST IN: "The Crew made the decision to go" — Inside RCH 871, which saved 640 from the Taliban ... from @TaraCopp and me https://t.co/r4YvGqJZ4bpic.twitter.com/CI1mAmqjHT
— Marcus Weisgerber (@MarcusReports) August 16, 2021
US military site, Defense One, which obtained extraordinary images of the mercy mission, said the crew initially thought they had about 800 people on board the evacuation flight to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The site reported that the 640 passengers are believed to be among the most people ever flown in a C-17.
“The C-17, using the call sign Reach 871, was not intending to take on such a large load, but panicked Afghans who had been cleared to evacuate pulled themselves onto the C-17’s half-open ramp,’’ the site reported.
“Instead of trying to force those refugees off the aircraft, the crew made the decision to go. Approximately 640 Afghan civilians disembarked the aircraft when it arrived at its destination.”
This footage from Kabul airport — Afghans desperately trying to board a C-17 airlifter from the Gulf. #Afghanistanpic.twitter.com/c8s5ZsB3cs
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) August 15, 2021
Air traffic radio recorded an official discussing the flight with someone on the plane.
“OK, how many people do you think are on your jet? … 800 people on your jet? … Holy f***, holy cow…” the official says.
Exact recording found here https://t.co/aPsylMRhS3
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 15, 2021
Defense One reported that in 2013, a C-17 evacuated 670 people fleeing a typhoon in the Philippines. “Like that evacuation, the Afghans flown from Kabul to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, sat on the floor of the plane’s capacious hold. The procedure is known as ‘floor loading’; the passengers hang onto cargo straps run from wall to wall serving as makeshift seatbelts.’’
Urgent international evacuation flights out of Kabul have since been halted because of ongoing chaos at Kabul’s international airport as desperate Afghans tried to flee on departing US jets, Taliban gunmen roamed the terminals and US troops killed at least two men. At least eight Afghans were killed Monday at the airport.
Panicked Afghans held onto the sides of planes as they took off, with several falling to their deaths.
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