U.S. activates civil airline fleet to assist with Afghan evacuation
The Biden administration on Sunday ordered U.S. commercial airliners to lend a hand with the mission to evacuate Americans and pro-U.S. Afghans from Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has formally activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, which provides the Department of Defense temporary access to airlines to reinforce its own fleet, Pentagon officials said during a statement.
In all, 18 aircraft are going to be a part of the augmentation, officials said.
United Airlines will provide four planes, while American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Atlas Air, and Omni Air will each provide three aircraft.
Hawaiian Airlines also will authorize two aircraft for the evacuation missions.
The planes wont fly into Hamid Karzai International Airport, the scene of chaos since the autumn of the pro-U.S. Afghan government to Taliban forces every week ago.
