US Air Force crams 800 afghan people onto C-17 jet out of Kabul

[ansible]

Keep in mind that the normal capacity for these planes is only 134

[LisaL]

1. Yikes.

Is that a cargo plane?

[WarGamer]

4. Yes.

They probably took the maximum loaded weight of the plane with cargo and crew and divided the weight by the average weight of an evacuee and loaded it up.

The C-17 commonly performs tactical and strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo throughout the world; additional roles include medical evacuation and airdrop duties.

Maximum 77,519 kg (170,900 lbs.) of cargo

[Phoenix61]

5. Nope, military transport. nt

[roamer65]

2. Lucky people.

[magicarpet]

3. Bong,... Bong,... Bong....

No need to fasten your seatbelt,...

There ain't none....

[LisaL]

8. Large number of the population is infected with covid.

It's going to spread in there for sure.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

31. If I were in their position

I'd rather risk covid then get my head cut off.

[Dial H For Hero]

35. Hell, I'd rather be injected with it.

[JI7]

6. Are these people already cleared to come to the US ?

Or will they be taken somewhere else where they can do the process of who can come ?

[DURHAM D]

7. Story here -

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2021/08/16/800-people-one-jet-flight-trackers-reveal-heroic-desperate-effort-in-chaotic-afghanistan-evacuation/?sh=732cb59abedb

[ancianita]

45. That Defence Geek flight list is a big f'n deal

Thanks for posting this. I knew we were busier than most media are reporting.

[Frasier Balzov]

11. Quo Vadis? Where was this plane headed?

I see. Qatar.

[ancianita]

46. The Join Chiefs reported yesterday that we already had 2,000 brought into the U.S this past week.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2732053/joint-statement-from-the-department-of-state-and-department-of-defense-update-o/

[Texaswitchy]

9. Million dollar ticket.

Should have started a lot sooner.

[Beachnutt]

10. covid ??

[magicarpet]

14. Vetting for Islamic terrorists ?

[LisaL]

16. Lots.

A lot of people in the country are infected.

[honest.abe]

18. The least of their worries at this point.

imho

[LisaL]

22. But it should be of ours.

Considering they will arrive in the US, and a lot of them are likely infected.

[honest.abe]

24. Yeah, I am sure they will be tested at that point.

Not an issue at the moment given the urgency of the crisis.

[rockfordfile]

26. I agree

[Sgent]

36. Really?

Assume they all have it and they add less than 0.1% to our the 7 day average of Covid-19 positive results which are at 200K / day. It will have to get sorted out, along with visa issues, but its way far down on things I would care about if I was part of the Embassy staff.

[gldstwmn]

37. They're going to El Paso.

I'm sure some folks will work themselves into a good lather over that.

[Lonestarblue]

44. El Paso is a mostly Democratic city, so people will most likely welcome them.

idiot Abbott will start talking about all the migrants again!

[gldstwmn]

56. Exactly.

[joshcryer]

38. 43k a day in the USA.

They have more worry about becoming infected by us than us by them, lol.

[LisaL]

42. We'd be lucky to have only 43K per day.

We are over 100k per day now.

[gldstwmn]

55. You don't say?

[Polybius]

53. They're not all coming to the US

Many will be relocated in Europe.

[Polybius]

54. I'm more worried about if each and every one was properly vetted

Hopefully they were, or will be.

[Ace Rothstein]

23. Odds of them surviving COVID are likely multiple times their odds of surviving the Taliban.

Likely a huge difference in odds.

[joshcryer]

39. Yeah, virtually every person on that plane is at risk.

Simply by virtue of the fact that they chose to leave the country.

Every single person should be given safe harbor. If there was every an asylum case to be made those Afghani's have it. 100%.

[honest.abe]

12. This is great actually. I am sure every single person on this plane is incredibly thankful.

Also I see a bunch of women and children on board.

[MissB]

13. The lucky ones

I’m sure it is a relief for everyone that made it aboard the plane.

[BannonsLiver]

15. Well, people say get them out

It’s not going to be an Emirates air suite.

[Turbineguy]

17. Noticed this in the article

"The U.S. and other countries indeed are planning to resettle thousands of Afghans with an estimated 88,000 currently being processed for Special Immigrant Visas for their roles in assisting U.S. forces at great risk to their lives and those of their families."

Matt Zeller was on MSNBC earlier saying that this was not happening.

[DURHAM D]

20. Seems Zeller has poor or no sources.

He is such a jerk. I wouldn't talk to him.

[honest.abe]

21. That is wonderful news.

Thank goodness many of these people are going to be taken care of.

[PoliticAverse]

19. Whenever I see something like this I'm reminded of the "Operation Babylift" Vietnam C-5 disaster...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_T%C3%A2n_S%C6%A1n_Nh%E1%BB%A9t_C-5_accident

[msongs]

25. perfect target for a nut with a rocket launcher at the end of the runway nt

[wnylib]

43. Which is why we have troops

protecting the area. Also why Biden has stated emphatically that any attempt interfere will be met with maximum retaliation.

[Baitball Blogger]

27. Amazing, amazing, amazing.

There is a little boy in the front looking directly at the camera. I pray that wherever he lands, his life will be better off than in a country run by the Taliban.

[Fiendish Thingy]

28. Good- keep it up until they are all safe. Nt

[Hekate]

29. C 17s are designed for heavy loads. Don't they carry tanks & such? The pilot would be able to...

…calculate load-weight fairly well: weight of fuel and of 800 passengers with no luggage. Judging from the photo they are all in what used to be normal weight range for Americans before McDonalds and Burger King.

So yeah, I’d trust an experienced pilot of a military transport plane.

[Brother Buzz]

50. They can, but my money says it flew over something more important, a Chinook helicopter

[Hekate]

51. Right

[madaboutharry]

30. Their faces seem so relaxed and relieved.

Some women don’t have their head covered. They must be so grateful. This is really a beautiful photo.

I hope many more planes like this are flying tonight.

[El Supremo]

32. Here is a normal load:

I heard someone say that the crew defied all regulations and should be awarded medals.

[Mr.Bill]

41. A rare look at the inside of an actual can of whoop-ass.

[DashOneBravo]

49. Haha

Paratroopers .

Man oh man. That’s a lot better than a C-130. Which if you look at the first two rows, it was about that size. So close the Air Force crew would walk across the rucks when in a hurry.

Lots of places to stuff a puke bag in the big one

[hamsterjill]

52. I think the crew deserves medals.

This is American honor.

[Disaffected]

33. A wonderful sight for those

able to get on the plane but another Where's Waldo in regards to wearing masks (I count only two). And, I'm guessing most (almost all?) are unvaccinated. There is going to have to be some pretty serious quarantining here.

[ornotna]

34. 800 souls saved

From the Vashta Nerada.

[BigmanPigman]

40. Looks like reports that the men pushed aside women, kids

and grandparents while trying to get on the planes were correct. I see mostly men.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=674663

[ancianita]

47. I noticed that in the photo.

Thanks for the link.
Looks like some are going have a hard time with mere equality and respect for women's lives in the West. I can see Republicans and evangelicals inviting them into the fold.

[BigmanPigman]

48. Naturally.

Their numbers are dwindling according to the census. They need to recruit more into their "He-man, woman haters club"..... "No gurlz allowed".