Air Force Probe Clears C-17 Crew Following Civilian Deaths During Afghanistan Evacuation

The investigation into the emergency flight was launched after human remains were found in the C-17's wheel well.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 04:53 PM ET

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Staff Sgt. John Eller conducts pre-flights check on his C-17 Globemaster III Jan. 3 prior to taking off from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The crew of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III that made an emergency evacuation flight from Kabul last year as civilians flooded the runway and gripped to the exterior of the aircraft “acted appropriately and exercised sound judgment,” according to an internal service investigation.

The Air Force’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) launched the probe into the August 16, 2021, flight from Hamid Karzai International Airport (OAKB) in Kabul after it landed at Al Udeid Air Base (OTBH) in Qatar and human remains were found in the aircraft’s wheel well.