The Afghanistan airlift operation is expanding as the U.S. government enlists commercial airlines to assist in evacuating refugees from the war-torn region. These efforts follow ongoing evacuations from Kabul amid the Taliban’s rapid resurgence across Afghanistan.
According to a statement released Sunday by the Defense Department, commercial aviation providers will assist in transporting evacuees who have already been flown out of Afghanistan. These individuals are currently at temporary safe havens and staging areas outside Kabul. The aircraft will not enter Afghan airspace, but will instead operate from third-country locations.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby stated that 18 aircraft have been placed on standby through companies such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Hawaiian Airlines. These planes will support the Afghanistan airlift operation by relocating evacuees to their final destinations after processing.
This marks only the third activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) since its creation in 1951. The program was previously activated during the Gulf War (1990–1992) and the Iraq invasion (2002–2003). Under CRAF, participating airlines provide aircraft voluntarily in exchange for preferential access to peacetime government transport contracts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the civilian aircraft will not be used to extract people from Kabul directly. “We’ve asked airlines to help move people from these third-country sites as we process and complete their security screening,” said Blinken.
He added that nearly two dozen countries across four continents have agreed to support U.S. evacuation efforts, helping to transit evacuees out of Kabul. This coordination ensures enough flight capacity to complete the mission.
The call for assistance comes after scenes of chaos at Hamid Karzai International Airport, where crowds surged onto runways and clung to departing military planes, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Airline executives have expressed support for the mission. Delta’s Executive VP of Operations, John Laughter, noted: “For decades, Delta has supported the U.S. military. We’re proud to again pledge our people and aircraft for this relief effort.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby echoed this commitment: “We welcome the responsibility to respond quickly to international crises. This mission calls on the strength and coordination of our entire team.”
As of this week, the U.S. government has evacuated over 25,100 people from Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul. However, thousands more remain in danger, seeking a path to safety amid uncertainty and rising fears under Taliban rule.
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