The review found that, given the conditions at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 16, 2021, where pilots were trying Working in the middle of chaosThe US Air Force said in a statement on Monday that the crew acted appropriately. They also said the crew used sound judgment “in their decision to fly in as quickly as possible when faced with an unprecedented and rapidly deteriorating security situation”.
CNN previously reported that the US Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations opened an investigation and that the crew made the decision to take off due to the deteriorating security situation at the airport after hundreds of Afghans infiltrated the surroundings and surrounded the C-17.
“The air crew’s profession and quick thinking ensured the safety of the crew and their aircraft. After seeking appropriate care and services to help deal with any trauma of this unprecedented experience, the crew returned to flight status,” the US Air Force said on Monday.
Thousands of Afghans They were desperate to leave the country in the face of a Taliban takeover after the group had captured Kabul the day before. Civilians rushed to the tarmac and video At that time, civilians appeared clinging to military transport planes as they took off.
The Biden administration has become under intense scrutiny Regarding addressing the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, questions remain as to why evacuation efforts did not begin sooner as the Taliban gained control of more territory across the country. President Joe Biden defended his decision to withdraw US forces from the country and described the withdrawal as an “extraordinary success”.