US Central Command said they are “unaware” of an attempted hijacking of a commercial flight out of Kabul during the disastrous withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, despite “thoroughly reviewing” and approving an Air Force report published Tuesday describing the incident.
Central Command spokeswoman LT Josie Lynne Lenny told CNN in a statement Thursday that she is “unaware of any attempt to hijack a plane at Hamid Karzai International airport.”
“During the Afghanistan evacuation mission, an intel tip indicated the possibility of a plot to hijack a particular flight that was preparing to depart the airfield,” her statement continued. “Ground traffic controllers diverted the plane to a safe location on the airfield where security forces boarded the plane and determined that there was no active attempt to hijack the aircraft.”
On Tuesday, Air Force public affairs officer Lt. Col. Kristen Duncan published a report on an attempted hijacking that occurred during the botched evacuation. According to Duncan, airmen from the personnel recovery task force began tracking passengers leaving Kabul on US Air Force C-17s.
“On one occasion after they received an intel tip, five people onboard one of the commercial flights intended to hijack the aircraft,” Duncan wrote.
“’Our team worked to get them clear of the NATO ramp, relocated to the north side away from friendly forces, then ultimately onto the south side where the situation was handled,'” she continued, quoting Lt. Col. Brian Desautels, commander of the 71st Rescue Squadron who was also leading airmen in at the airport.
Duncan’s report offered few details on the incident, but it does include a note that Central Command had both “thoroughly reviewed” and approved the report in early October “for operational security.” Central Command did not mention the review to CNN.
As of Friday morning, Duncan’s report still includes the account of the attempted hijacking.
The report also states that both the Defense and State Departments “sent messages to American citizens and commanders warning of an imminent attack at the gates Thursday morning, Aug. 26.”
“Many of our Airmen had just been pulling AMCITs, coalition partners and SIVs at Abbey Gate,” Desautels said. “The harrowing work speaks to the Airmen of Rescue, who live for the mission to its core.”
The Airmen saved at least 50 people prior to 2 p.m. while the Marines worked security. Abbey Gate was “packed with over 10,000 people when it was bombed” at around 6 p.m. local time. After the explosion, terrorists also engaged with “small arms fire.”
“There were lots of very badly injured people hurt … lots of blood,” he said. “The surgeons were worn out. Many died on the operating table.”
Eleven Marines, one Navy corpsman and one Army Soldier were killed in the attack.
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