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Home » Afghanistan » Afghan Pilots Fled Afghanistan…With Their Airplanes
Afghanistan

Afghan Pilots Fled Afghanistan…With Their Airplanes

Matthew Klint Posted onSeptember 13, 2021November 14, 2023 7 Comments

two airplanes flying in the sky

As Afghanistan collapsed to Taliban forces, the United States had a choice to make: destroy billions of dollars worth of aircraft equipment, turn it over to the Taliban, or bring it out of the country. In a surprisingly clever move, the U.S. evacuated Afghan pilots…in their aircraft. Now a diplomatic battle is brewing between Afghanistan’s new Taliban leaders and neighboring Uzbekistan over the return of those planes and helicopters.

Afghan Pilots Escape Afghanistan Using Their Airplanes

About a moth ago, the writing was already on the wall. With the Taliban toppling city after the city as it marched toward Kabul, the U.S. knew that the situation would likely not end well. Rather than simply destroy or dismantle the fleet of aircraft in Afghanistan’s Air Force, Afghan pilots were directed to report to a camp in Uzbekistan…in their airplanes.

Thus began the airlift before the airlift, with 46 Afghan pilots escaping the country for Uzbekistan, some with their families in tow. After several weeks, these pilots are now finally leaving Uzbekistan, but it is not back to Afghanistan. Rather, their final destination is the United States.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have invited them back (with their aircraft, of course) to Afghanistan. Taliban leaders promise there will be no reprisals for their cooperation with Americans and asked them to help establish a new Air Force administered by the Taliban regime (the group currently has no Air Force other than the helicopters and drones left behind by U.S. and Afghan forces).

But pilots are not buying that…especially after a concerted campaign by the Taliban to assassinate pilots ahead of their takeover. One pilot was gunned down in broad daylight at a real estate office in Kabul with his teenage son watching. He leaves behind a wife and seven children. In total, seven pilots were murdered.

The status of 46 aircraft, including UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and A-29 light attack planes is in doubt. Reuters reports the Taliban has placed considerable pressure on Uzbekistan to hand over the aircraft. Meanwhile, the U.S. is working on how to transport the planes back to the United States.

CONCLUSION

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was highly criticized, but at least the bulk of the fleet of the Afghan Air Force was not simply left for the Taliban. Pilots escaped in their aircraft and now wait or a new life…far away from Afghanistan.

image: MAS1357

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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7 Comments

  1. derek Reply
    September 13, 2021 at 11:35 am

    I wonder if any Kam Air or Ariana Afghan Airlines people flew away with aircraft?

    There must have been some people who left in the first half of 2021 thinking the situation was unstable. I am sure there were people who thought of it but didn’t do enough to get out. On the other hand, visas can take a long time. India offers a 6 month electronic visa, which might be easier to get compared to a US visa.

  2. Ghostrider5408 Reply
    September 13, 2021 at 11:57 am

    I wonder if the administration was smart enough to whisper in the ears of the pilots and offer them something to fly these birds out ? Hope so, bad enough we left behind what we did. By the by I am a Vietnam combat vet and full well know what was left behind.

  3. Brian L. Reply
    September 13, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    I doubt the Taliban will be able to make any meaningful use of these aircraft if they get them back. Where are they going to get the aircrew, fuel, spare parts for maintenance, etc.? I don’t think they can count on China to supply too much of that.

    • David Reply
      September 13, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      China had already been talking to the Taliban, at meetings in China, about things such as rights to natural resources. The Taliban might not be able to make much use of it, but you can bet your last dollar the Chinese are all over this already, learning everything they can about our military technology. That is a HUGE problem.

  4. emercycrite Reply
    September 13, 2021 at 9:25 pm

    How clever.

  5. James Reply
    September 13, 2021 at 11:34 pm

    If my iphone is lost or disable I can turn it into a brick. You would think the US could so the same.

  6. Sexy_kitten7 Reply
    September 14, 2021 at 10:25 pm

    ubeki beki stan stan

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