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Pittsburgh’s 911th Airlift Wing back home after taking part in Afghanistan evacuation mission

PITTSBURGH — Servicemembers from the Pittsburgh-based 911th Airlift Wing are back home after being deployed to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation effort at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

Channel 11 spoke with the Commander of the 911th, who choked up at one point talking about seeing his planes and his people working to get others out.

“The Air Force and the airmen out there, like they have done for so many years, is representing Pittsburgh very well and they should be proud of the men and women of the 911th and what they’re doing out there, said Col. John Robinson. “I couldn’t be more proud to be their commander.”

Robinson said his crews were providing security, mission support, operations and more ahead of withdrawal deadline set by President Joe Biden. He said when the 911th Airlift Wing got the call, they were ready.

“That’s a proud moment to see them and they show so much pride in what they’re doing and it’s the reward they see and feel when receiving people or lifting off from Afghanistan,” he said.

He said he can’t release how many planes and airmen from Pittsburgh were over there, but said the region was well represented.

Welcome back aircraft and crew from assisting with evacuation missions in Afghanistan! #ReserveResilient #ReserveReady

Posted by 911th Airlift Wing on Tuesday, August 31, 2021