Afghanistan: Washington mobilizes planes from private companies to help evacuation – franceinfo

In total, 18 planes are mobilized. This program has only been triggered twice in the past, during the Gulf War in 1990-91, then in 2002-2003 during the invasion of Iraq.

Posted the 08/22/2021 4:20 PM

Update the 08/22/2021 4:29 PM

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The United States has requisitioned the planes of several private airlines to help evacuate people fleeing Afghanistan, the US Department of Defense announced on Sunday (August 22nd).

These planes will not take off from Kabul airport, the Pentagon said in a statement, but will help transport people who have been evacuated to third countries, such as Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. Activation of this program, called CRAF, will allow “army planes to concentrate on operations in Kabul”, specified the ministry.

In total, 18 planes are mobilized, belonging to the companies American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, Omni Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines, details the press release. This program has only been triggered twice in the past, during the Gulf War in 1990-91, then in 2002-2003 during the invasion of Iraq. Since August 14, some 17,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan by the United States, including 2,500 Americans.

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