Kabul - USAF C-17 - 02-1109

[Andy Marden]

The Taliban is already flying some of the Afghan Army's helicopters.

Interesting, I'm amazed they have any pilots. What evidence do you have of this please?

[Mike]

I was tracking the flight with 600 plus onboard and it was night time.

Night time in the UK or night time in Afghanistan?

I was tracking it before 11pm sunday so still dark in Afghanistan. I got a notification about the atc audio of it just after 11pm

Thanks for that, James.

[jamesg23]

The Taliban is already flying some of the Afghan Army's helicopters.

Interesting, I'm amazed they have any pilots. What evidence do you have of this please?

Its possible they have aircrew, the afghan army and airforce have melted away somewhere and some could be with the taliban now but i havent seen this reported anywhere else so will be interesting to see where the info comes from.

[page_verify]

The Taliban is already flying some of the Afghan Army's helicopters.

Interesting, I'm amazed they have any pilots. What evidence do you have of this please?

https://twitter.com/RisboLensky/status/ ... 7722798084

[EGDR]

Regarding 02-1109, there is a video out there which I won't share, but this is a text report made following the landing at Al-Udeid if you want to stomach it: https://scontent.fbrs4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=61421B3B

[gnirtS]

The Taliban is already flying some of the Afghan Army's helicopters.

Interesting, I'm amazed they have any pilots. What evidence do you have of this please?

Its possible they have aircrew, the afghan army and airforce have melted away somewhere and some could be with the taliban now but i havent seen this reported anywhere else so will be interesting to see where the info comes from.

Looks more like a PR shoot. A handful of pilots changed sides or got "persuaded". Boils down to 1 dodgy PR campaign flight over some captured vehicles.

Theres no chance they have the ground support staff, engineers or specialists needed to keep even a small number of helicopters combat operational.
That said, they now control the entire country with pretty much no opposition - they don't really need an air force either.

[reach1]

Taliban have been flying helicopters from herat airbase ,Also noted a qatar C-17 flew from doha to Kandahar disappeared in the decent around Kandahar was showing a Kabul squawk then a hour later showed a Kabul squawk and landed again into Kabul this time ,This was about the same time the Taliban leaders arrived in the country.

[reach1]

Qatat C-17 was Reg A7-map now departing Kabul squawking 3206 bet that don’t have 640 people on it.

[James Cutting]

Regarding 02-1109, there is a video out there which I won't share, but this is a text report made following the landing at Al-Udeid if you want to stomach it: https://scontent.fbrs4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=61421B3B

Jesus!! Wow. Hope that crew get as much support as possible.

[page_verify]

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is reviewing the events that led to a deadly C-17 takeoff from Kabul Monday, during which Afghans mobbed and clung to the accelerating plane, resulting in multiple deaths.

The OSI review will not only look at the decision to conduct the takeoff, but also at the release of video “and the source of social media posts” from inside the C-17 that showed a body violently flapping in the air at the wheel well.

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/ ... ht/184599/

[raptor9]

Can't wait to see THAT video [not!]

[James Cutting]

Do you take off with a full aircraft and some people clinging on knowing you'll lose a few, or, do you sit on the ground fully exposed to the Taliban and one trigger happy bloke to launch an RPG potentially killing you and your crew with a few hundred more??

Let's hope the use their brains with this one - though not sure that sort of video should've been posted online (Most likely from an Afghani, all other videos were).

[BOLLO]

Blimey,just seen a pic of the inside of the C-17 that departed with 800 people on it News Night.

The AMC now saying 823 peole were now on this flight .

CORRECTION: A United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III safely transported 823 Afghan citizens from Hamid Karzai International Airport Aug. 15, 2021. This is a record for this aircraft.
The initial count of 640 inadvertently included only adults. 183 children were also aboard.
The original number was based on how many bus seats were filled departing the aircraft and didn’t account for the number of children in laps.
**Original caption: A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III safely transported approximately 640 Afghan citizens from Hamid Karzai International Airport Aug. 15, 2021. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo.**

[cj9ru]

Well, I for one think that was a brave and difficult decision to go. Also I firmly believe it was the right decision. The young men (mainly young) that we expect to make these decisions cannot think of 'how it will look on TV when they decide.
I hope that any investigation is done in a sensible manner and looks carefully at the pressure that young man or woman was under at the time. As said... Do you risk the 800 you have on board for a few on the ground?
He/she was completely correct... difficult as that might be.
I only hope that they get the support they deserve after the event. Experiencing things like this can wreck lives of service personnel.

Chris

[BOLLO]

I think even the controller the pilots was speking to on sat comms was surprised he would get off the deck whith the count he was giving to him.

[Kurnass]

Well, I for one think that was a brave and difficult decision to go. Also I firmly believe it was the right decision. The young men (mainly young) that we expect to make these decisions cannot think of 'how it will look on TV when they decide.
I hope that any investigation is done in a sensible manner and looks carefully at the pressure that young man or woman was under at the time. As said... Do you risk the 800 you have on board for a few on the ground?
He/she was completely correct... difficult as that might be.
I only hope that they get the support they deserve after the event. Experiencing things like this can wreck lives of service personnel.

Chris

The crew involved was send to medical examination, and i’ve read somewhere they got psychological support. So I think they will be taken care of.
After all the suicides after the Iraq and Afghan missions, I hope the USA gives the veterans much more support this time

[T_J]

Footage from some of the Afghans hanging onto the C-17 as it was taxiing.

https://twitter.com/AsvakaNews/status/1 ... 8640930816

[DarkSky]

More difficult situations for the crews at Al udied today - I monitored loads of messages and sat calls calling for C17s to hold in the air until bingo fuel before landing at Al Udeid due to literally zero space on the ground. Also things on the ground were not good as evacs had to stay aboard the aircraft and crews were struggling to keep them cool and hydrated due to the heat. Sadly some deaths resulted from this... some very difficult situations and choices the crews are making, hope it ends for them soon.