Afghan Military Pilots, Staff Flee to Uzbekistan in 22 Aircraft, 24 Helicopters

Pilots and staff of the Afghan military reportedly utilized 22 aircraft and 24 helicopters to Uzbekistan in an attempt to flee their now Taliban-controlled country.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani also reportedly fled the country aboard a helicopter, after the Taliban took Kabul.

The Taliban have reportedly captured a number of aircraft including Bell MD-530F helicopters, Mi-35 (Mi-24V) helicopter gifted to Afghanistan by India, Mi-17 helicopters, a ScanEagle drone, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a A-29B Super Tucano light strike jet.

Between 14th and 15th August, the Afghan aircraft illegally transporting 585 armed servicemen across the borders were forced to land at the international airport of Termez, the media reported Monday, citing the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan.

The three Afghan Embraer 314 military aircraft that requested permission to land at Khanabad airport in Karshi on Sunday were redirected to the Termez airport accompanied by two military aircraft of the Uzbekistan Air Force MiG-29. This led to an Embraer 314 crashing with one of the escorting MiG-29s.

“However, during the escort, the Embraer 314 and MiG-29 aircraft collided and fell in the Sherabad district of the Surkhandarya region. The pilots of these aircraft ejected and landed with parachutes,” the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan said.

This statement made by the Prosecutor general’s office was later redacted stating that the information was not verified from responsible departments.

A criminal case has reportedly been lodged against 158 Afghan citizens and military personnel who illegally entered Uzbekistan’s Termez region.