Staff Writer
A critical and perilous Defence Force mission to evacuate Australians and Afghans from its capital’s besieged international airport is underway with a RAAF transport aircraft flying out of Kabul this morning.
Scene of havoc in recent days have unfolded at the airport and around Kabul after thousands of people frightfully tried to flee from the Taliban as it entered the city.
Flight tracking websites have recorded an RAAF Hercules aircraft heading from a military base in the Middle East towards Afghanistan just after midnight Canberra time.
It briefly reappeared on flight radars in Pakistani airspace this morning after going dark for several hours as it descended into Afghanistan.
Approximately 600 Australians and Afghans are anticipated to be rescued from Afghanistan in coming days.
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- A KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft takes off at RAAF Base Amberley bound for the Middle East to support evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.
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- Australian Army personnel from the 3rd and 17th Brigades board a Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker aircraft at RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland, on 16 August 2021, in support of Australia’s evacuation mission in Afghanistan.
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- Australian Defence Force personnel process the first evacuees from Kabul, Afghanistan at Australia’s main base in the Middle East region.
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- Australian Defence Force personnel process the first evacuees from Kabul, Afghanistan at Australia’s main base in the Middle East region.
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- The first Australian Defence Force evacuation flight has departed Kabul with 26 persons on board. The RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft landed at Hamid Karzai International Airport overnight and departed safely at around 1am local time, 18 August 2021.
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- The first Australian Defence Force evacuation flight has departed Kabul with 26 persons on board. The RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft landed at Hamid Karzai International Airport overnight and departed safely at around 1am local time, 18 August 2021.
