Kabul International Airport (IATA:KBL,ICAO:OAKB), also and formerly known asHamid Karzai International Airport, is an international airport located inKabul,Afghanistan. It is one of the country's maininternational airports, capable of housing over a hundred military and civilian aircraft. It is currently operated byUAE-based GAAC Holding and Afghanistan'sMinistry of Transport and Civil Aviation.[1]
The airport was originally named asKhwaja Rawash Airport because it was built in the area named Khwaja Rawash. It was given the nameKabul Airport in 1960 after theSoviet Union built a terminal and a concrete runway. From 2014 to 2021, it was namedHamid Karzai International Airport[4][5] in honor of formerpresidentHamid Karzai. After theTaliban returned to power in 2021, the name was changed back to Kabul International Airport.[5]
Prior to the withdrawal of US-led forces in 2021, the airport provided scheduled flights to and from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, andthe Persian Gulf region. The most frequently serviced destination from the airport has beenDubai in theUAE, with no fewer than four passenger airlines flying the route, and some with multiple daily flights.[9][10]
Kabul Airport was established during the Kingdom ofAmanullah Khan in the 1920s, which housed aircraft of theAfghan Air Force andAfghan Post. Its original location was a short distance to the south of the current location, in and aroundChaman-e-Hozori. The first international flight occurred in 1927 between Kabul andTashkent,Soviet Union. It was modernized in 1960 by Soviet engineers.[2] The airport was called Khwaja Rawash Airport because it was built in the area called Khwaja Rawash.[12][13] Foreign tourists began visiting Afghanistan via Kabul Airport. This era ended after the 1978Saur Revolution, especially after the 1979Soviet invasion.[14]
A new $35 million terminal for international flights was inaugurated in November 2008, built with aid from theJapan International Cooperation Agency. This terminal has twojetbridges.The then-Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai attended the inauguration ceremony.[16] The new terminal was officially opened to international flights in June 2009. The existing terminal has been refurbished and used for domestic flights.[citation needed]
In October 2014, theNational Assembly of Afghanistan proposed naming the airport after former Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai, a month after his tenure ended, in recognition of his services and contributions to the country's rebuilding. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of the new PresidentAshraf Ghani, which renamed the structure asHamid Karzai International Airport.[4]
Afghan evacuees boarding aPolishC-130 Hercules duringOperation Allies Refuge on 17 August 2021Afghan evacuees boarding American aircraft during Operation Allies Refuge on 21 August 2021
In July 2021, theTaliban took over many areas in Afghanistan, including those near Kabul Airport.Turkey announced that it would provide security at the airport.[17] U.S. and NATO forces were still deployed at the airport as well.[18] A few weeks later, Kabulfell into the hands of the Taliban, prompting thousands of people to flee to the airport in an attempt to leave the country. Seven people were alleged to have died at the airport after the crowds consisting of thousands of people tried to forcibly enter planes leaving the airport. US forces fired in the air to prevent the crowds running onto the tarmac and runways.[19] On 16 August 2021, the US Deputy Security Advisor announced the deployment of more forces to secure the airport.[20] The Pentagon confirmed the head ofU.S. Central Command, GeneralKenneth F. McKenzie Jr., metTaliban leaders inQatar. The Taliban officials agreed to terms set by McKenzie for refugees to flee using the Kabul International Airport.[21]
Following the fall of Kabul, theAfghan National Army and theAfghan National Police abandoned their posts. U.S. and allied forces subsequently took over the posts. On 16 August 2021, all commercial flights from Kabul Airport were cancelled indefinitely.[20][22]
On 26 August 2021, more than 100 people werekilled in an explosion outside Kabul Airport. TheIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility.[23] The last American forces departed from the airport around midnight on 30 August, ending U.S. involvement in the 20-year war. The Taliban subsequently took control of the airport.[24] Rough estimates by the Taliban calculated the damage to the airport at around $350 million.[25] Abdul Hadi Hamadan, the Taliban head of the airport, later stated that the damage to the airport's terminal alone due to the evacuation was $1 million.[26]
Several novels have been published following the dramatic US evacuation from the country. Those titles include: "Life and Death at Abbey Gate", "Saving Aziz", "Always Faithful", and "Kabul".[27]
Following the Taliban takeover, the airport was closed. Much of its infrastructure had been degraded or destroyed during the evacuation. According to QatariMinister of Foreign AffairsMohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani,Qatar was to send technical assistance to Afghanistan to help reopen the airport as soon as possible.[28]Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, theMinister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, stated that the Taliban and other countries had requested Turkey for help in resuming operations at the airport. TheMinister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,Sigrid Kaag, stated that her government was willing to support Turkey and Qatar in reopening the airport.[29] Meanwhile, the security of the airport was handed over to the Al-Fatah Brigade of the special forces of the group on 3 September.[25]
The airport reopened forAriana Afghan Airlines' domestic flights between Kabul and the cities ofHerat,Mazar-i-Sharif andKandahar, as well as for receiving aid from other countries, on 4 September, following work carried out by a technical team from Qatar, which repaired the airport's runway.[30] Taliban spokesmanZabiullah Mujahid stated on 6 September that Turkey and Qatar were trying to restart all flights from the airport.[31] On 8 September 2021, aNOTAM was issued by the airport's NOTAM office, indicating that the airport is operating between 03:30 and 13:30Coordinated Universal Time. Additional NOTAMs issued that day indicate that the airportsinstrument landing system is operative and that the airport's tower is operating again.[32]
AQatar Airways flight evacuating 113 nationals of other countries from Afghanistan was allowed to land at and depart from the airport on 9 September due to cooperation between the United States and the Taliban, marking the first such flight since the Taliban had completely taken over the facility.[5][33] Meanwhile, the Taliban renamed the airport toKabul International Airport, eliminating the reference to former Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai.[5]
APakistan International Airlines flight landed at the airport on 13 September, marking the first international commercial flight to land since the Taliban takeover.[34]Mahan Air resumed flights to the airport on 15 September, marking resumption of commercial flights betweenIran and Afghanistan.[35][36] TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs on 26 September announced that the problems at the airport had been resolved and asked international airlines to resume their flights, promising full cooperation.[37]
VariousAriana Afghan Airlines aircraft at the airport in 2007The airport's control tower and aKam Air aircraft in 2010
The airport has two terminals: the original that opened in 1960 and a newer building that opened in 2008. The terminal that opened in 2008 is used for international flights; the original 1960 Soviet-constructed terminal is used for domestic flights. Several hangars along the runway are for military aircraft. There are no hangars for civilian (or transient) aircraft. The airport has seven helicopter pads which are used mostly for military traffic.[citation needed] Fire fighting equipment is present. The firefighting equipment has a present capacity of up to 12,000 litres (2,600 imp gal; 3,200 US gal) of water and has the ability to reach 90 metres (300 ft) in height to manage fire outbreaks.[38]
On 2 January 1962,Iran Air Flight 123, aDouglas DC-3 on a cargo flight, crashed while attempting to take-off from Kabul. During the take-off roll the captain noticed a malfunction in the number 1 engine followed by the aircraft veering to the left of the runway. To avoid a crash, the captain pulled the aircraft up into the air, but while attempting to turn the aircraft away from the airport, a wing struck the ground followed by a crash. Both crew members survived.[73]
On 15 January 1969, Douglas DC-3 YA-AAB ofAriana Afghan Airlines was damaged beyond economic repair in a ground collision withDouglas DC-6 YA-DAN, also of Ariana.[74]
On 12 June 1990, anIlyushin Il-76 ofAeroflot was struck by a missile while flying at 6,900 m (22,500 ft) causing two engines to shut down. The aircraft made a forced landing in Kabul with no flaps on an unpaved runway. All 10 crew survived.[76]
On 29 May 1992, an Ariana Afghan AirlinesTupolev Tu-154 was struck by a missile while landing at Kabul. The nose of the aircraft was damaged but it landed safely. All passengers and crew survived.[77]
On 19 March 1998, aBoeing 727-200 of Ariana Afghan Airlinescrashed into the 910 m (3,000 ft) Sharki Baratayi mountain while descending into Kabul. All 10 crew and 35 passengers on board died.[78]
On 3 February 2005,Kam Air Flight 904, aBoeing 737-200 operated byPhoenix Aviation, vanished from radar screens on approach to Kabul in poor weather, sparking a massive Afghan National Army search operation for the 96 passengers and eight crew. The wreckage of the aircraft was found two days later in the mountains east of Kabul, all 105 people on board were killed.[79]
On 17 May 2010, all contact withPamir Airways Flight 112, anAntonov An-24 operated byPamir Airways, was lost ten minutes after departure fromKunduz Airport. After search efforts lasting four days, wreckage from the flight was located 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Kabul. All 39 passengers and five crew on board the flight died.[80]
On 8 May 2014, Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 312, aBoeing 737-400, ran off the runway after landing at the airport. Flight 312 originated in Delhi, India and operated on a scheduled passenger service to Kabul. On landing the aircraft overshot runway 29, coming to rest on uneven terrain. The aircraft was heavily damaged and six passengers were slightly injured.[81]
On 11 March 1985, anAntonov An-30 of theSoviet Air Force was on an aerial photography flight in the Kabul area south of the Panjshir Valley. Upon returning to the airport, the aircraft was struck by a Strela missile. The captain tried to make an emergency landing atBagram Airbase but was too high. A fire ignited by the missile strike then reached theaileron controls causing the pilots to lose control; three of the five crew members evacuated the aircraft safely, but the other two crew members died.[82]
On 29 November 1986, a Soviet Air ForceAntonov An-26 was hit by aStinger missile while climbing out of Kabul. The aircraft was carrying several tons ofS-24 rockets and 400 kg of explosives toJalalabad in Afghanistan. All seven crew members perished.[83]
On 21 October 1987, a Soviet Air ForceAntonov An-12BK collided with aMil Mi-24 helicopter while taking off in poor visibility. The aircraft was heading for the capital city of thenUzbek Soviet Socialist Republic,Tashkent; 18 of the 19 passengers and crew died.[84]
On 21 December 1987, a Soviet Air Force Antonov An-26 was hit by a Stinger missile while circling to a safe altitude shortly after take-off. The number one engine was hit, puncturing the fuel tank. Smoke entered the cabin. All six crew members parachuted out; the captain jumped too close to the ground to open his parachute and died upon impact.[85]
On 24 June 1988, a Soviet Air Force Antonov An-26 was hit by bullets fired fromMujahideen rebels. The aircraft crashed in Kabul, killing one of the six crew members on board.[86]
On 28 August 1992, a Soviet Air Force Ilyushin Il-76MD was hit by a renegade Mujahideen rocket while boarding Russian embassy staff.[87]
On 5 August 2008, aLockheed C-130H Hercules of theUnited Arab Emirates Air Force overran the runway upon landing in Kabul, causing a fire in the forward section of the aircraft. The aircraft was carrying aid to Afghanistan. All crew members survived.[88]
On 16 August 2021, as aBoeing C-17 Globemaster III of theUnited States Air Force was taking off, crowds of people trying to escape the2021 Taliban offensive were seen running alongside and clinging onto the aircraft. The aircraft lifted up into the air with people still holding on, with at least two dying after falling from the aircraft and an unknown number possibly crushed and killed by the landing gear retracting; human remains were found in the wheel well.[89][90] The incident was widely reported in U.S. and international media.[91][92][93]
On 31 August 1984, Afghanguerillas exploded a bomb at the airport where severalAeroflot planes were picking up passengers, killing 28 people and wounding 350 others.[94][95]
On 8 September 2009, at around 8:22 AM local time, a suicide bombing took place near the entrance of the airport's military base.[96][97]
On 3 July 2014, Taliban fighters fired two rockets into the airport, destroying four helicopters. One of the four helicopters belonged to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.[98]
On 29 January 2015, three American defense contractors and one Afghan national were killed by a gunman outside the airport in late evening local time.[99]
On 17 May 2015, a suicide bombing by the Taliban near the entrance of the airport occurred, killing three and injuring eighteen.[100]
On 26 August 2021, more than 185 people werekilled, including at least 13 U.S. service members and 90 Afghans, at the Kabul airport when twoISIS-K[23] suicide bombers ripped through crowds trying to enter the American-controlled facility, disrupting the final push of the U.S.-led evacuation effort. The bombs were set off near a crowd of families at the airport gates who were desperately hoping to make one of the last evacuation flights out. Gunfire was reported in the aftermath of the explosions.[101][102][103]
On 29 August 2021, smoke was seen rising from two explosions which occurred near the airport, one of which killed a child.[104] Explosions occurred hours after U.S. PresidentJoe Biden warned of another terrorist attack in Kabul.
On 30 August 2021, US troops used thermite bombs to disable several counter rocket, artillery and mortar systems used to protect the airfield from incoming ISIS-K fired rockets.[105]
^abSmith, Harvey Henry (1969).Area Handbook for Afghanistan (fourth ed.). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 35.The Kabul airport, completed in 1960.... The airport and the terminal building were constructed and financed by the Soviet Union.
^Cook, Mikael (15 February 2024).Life and Death at Abbey Gate: The Fall of Afghanistan and the Operation to Save Our Allies. Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC.ISBN978-1636243962.
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