Kabul International Airport has been seeing an escalation in repatriation flights in recent days
The first repatriation flight from Afghanistan lands at RAF Brize Norton (UK - Ministery of Defence /Twitter)
Following the Taliban's advance in recent days and the takeover of Kabul last Sunday (Aug 15), air mobility operations to Kabul airport have experienced a record surge in evacuation flights of diplomats and citizens from several countries around the world.
According to Turkey's defense minister, Hulusi Akar, at least 62 evacuation flights were organized from Kabul's international airport in the last two days (through August 18).
The first repatriation flight from Afghanistan lands at RAF Brize Norton (UK - Ministery of Defence /Twitter)
European countries, too have been intensifying repatriation flights as German, French, and British military aircraft moved citizens and refugees out of Kabul after the Taliban quickly took control of the capital over the weekend. Evacuation efforts were suspended on August 16, 2021, for security reasons after Afghan nationals who were desperate to leave, stormed the runway.
Embassy Staff arriving at RAF Brize Norton as part of Op PITTING - (UK - Ministery of Defence /Twitter)
German airline Lufthansa is currently assisting the German army by providing flights from Doha, Qatar, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, using one of its A340-300 long-haul aircraft.
Lufthansa Airbus A340-400 (D-AIGY) - (Lufthansa News / Twitter)
Lufthansa LH340 flight data:
The image above: RadarBox.com
French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves le Drian, said that France withdrew 216 people from Kabul overnight yesterday, including 25 French nationals and 184 Afghans.
Repatriation flights of French citizens and diplomats. Image Source: Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (@/Armee_de_lair on Twitter) - Etat-major des armées ©
Countries like Spain and Poland have also sent evacuation flights to repatriate their citizens and diplomats in Afghanistan.
Poland-based airline LOT has sent a Boeing 787-8 (SP-LRH) to Navoi, a city located in Uzbekistan, for the repatriation of Polish diplomats and citizens to Warsaw, Poland.
LOT LO7024 flight data:
The image above: RadarBox.com
Also, the Spanish flag carrier Air Europa, sent a Boeing 787 to Dubai on behalf of the Spanish Air Force to repatriate Spanish citizens who were stranded in Afghanistan.
Air Europa AME0821 flight data:
The image above: RadarBox.com
Further flights are scheduled in the coming days as part of Operation Pitting, the official name of the military operation meant to evacuate eligible British citizens and Afghan officials. It is also expected that other countries will carry out repatriation flights in the coming days to evacuate their citizens from the country located in Central Asia.
Kabul International Airport (KBL / OAKB) Flight Statistics on AirNav RadarBox:
Kabul International Airport heat route map on AirNav RadarBox:
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