Latest news with #GlobemasterIII
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: ED seizes 30 passports, finds hawala trail in ‘donkey route' probe
Two days after raiding 11 locations in Punjab and Haryana in connection with illegal human trafficking to the United States, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday said that it had seized 30 original passports and collected evidence of hawala (illegal) money transactions. A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft carrying deportees lands at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on February 5. (File photo) The raids were conducted in Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala and Moga cities of Punjab besides Ambala, Kurukshetra and Karnal in Haryana as part of the investigation into money laundering linked to the 'donkey route' — a network facilitating illegal immigration to the US. ED raids are underway at seven locations in Punjab's Mansa districts besides Kurukshetra and Karnal on Friday. An official said the searches were based on inputs gathered during the search operation on July 9 at 11. In an official statement, the ED said 30 original passports were found in the house of a travel agent involved in sending people abroad illegally. 'Credible evidence has been recovered which indicates that agents have done cash/hawala transactions running into crores of rupees by duping prospective clients. During the operation, the names of agents and immigration agencies that carried out illegal donkey route business on a large scale have surfaced,' an ED spokesperson said. The ED initiated the action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of 19 FIRs against travel agents and middlemen who exploited Indian citizens seeking to enter the US illegally. 'Incriminating documents, records and digital devices have been recovered and seized. Investigation showed people wanting to go to the US were duped by travel agents and middlemen on the false promise of sending them through legal channels. They were sent through the 'donkey route' and made to cross borders of various countries illegally through dangerous routes with the help of donkers (human trafficking conduits) and the mafia,' the ED said. The agents in collusion with donkers and the mafia used to create threatening situations for the persons to extort more money from their families, the federal agency said. As many as 131 youngsters from Punjab were deported on board US military planes in February by the Donald Trump administration. These deportees had attempted to cross the US-Mexico border illegally between January 23 and 28, only to be apprehended by US border security patrols and sent to detention centres. The ED has recorded the statements of victims deported from the US. Each deportee had paid between ₹45 lakh- ₹55 lakh to travel agents they had never met in person but were connected to through local contacts. The ED asked the deportees to furnish all documents, including bank account details of the travel agents to whom payments were made. Earlier this month, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested two alleged 'US donkey route' human traffickers after searches at two locations in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. The accused were identified as Sunny of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and Shubham Sandhal of Rupnagar, who was residing in Peeragarhi in the national capital. Their names surfaced during interrogation of Gagandeep Singh, who was arrested by the NIA from New Delhi.
Glasgow Times
23-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Huge US Air Force plane spotted flying over Glasgow
According to Flight Radar, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III landed at the city's travel hub shortly before 10pm on Sunday, June 22. The war plane touched down at Glasgow Airport after travelling from Gander International Airport in Canada. READ MORE: easyJet flight forced to make emergency landing at Glasgow Airport amid issue READ MORE: Flight forced to return to Glasgow Airport after taking off amid issue However, before landing, on Flight Radar's map, the aircraft could be seen circling above Ayrshire before heading up the central belt of Scotland and landing at Glasgow. Titled flight RCH236, the plane then left Glasgow at around 4am on Monday, June 23, before arriving in Chania International Airport in Greece. (Image: Google) After seeing the plane, curious locals from across Glasgow took to Facebook to reveal their sighting of it and see if anyone knew anything about it. One person wrote: "I saw it fly over when I was driving up towards Easterhouse." A second person questioned: "Anyone know why this would be flying over Baillieston?" A third added: "It landed at Glasgow Airport. Another one went past here this morning at around 9am (Sunday, June 22).
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
As World War III looms, will Boeing restart the production of its iconic heavy lift jet the C-17 Globemaster III?
Boeing C-17 Production Restart Talks Begin Amid Rising Global Demand for Strategic Airlift - Boeing is exploring a possible C-17 production restart, nearly a decade after the last aircraft left the assembly line. The Globemaster III, a backbone of the U.S. and allied airlift capability, could return to production as Boeing confirms early-stage discussions with at least one unnamed foreign customer. This development comes amid growing global demand for strategic transport aircraft, especially as no immediate replacement for the C-17 currently exists. According to Turbo Sjogren, VP and general manager of Boeing Global Services-Government Services, the talks are in their "early infancy," as reported by Shephard Defense at the Paris Air Show. Why is Boeing considering restarting C-17 Globemaster III production now? The interest in restarting Boeing C-17 production stems from a lack of comparable alternatives and growing international airlift needs. Countries across Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East are expanding their military capabilities and looking for aircraft that can meet both strategic and tactical lift roles. The C-17's unique ability to carry up to 100,000 pounds of cargo over 4,500 nautical miles while landing on runways as short as 3,500 feet makes it nearly unmatched. While Boeing hasn't revealed which country is involved in the current talks, speculation includes Japan, whose Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, recently expressed interest in acquiring C-17s. Previously, Tokyo would have needed to source used aircraft from allies. A new production line changes that possibility entirely. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Who currently operates the C-17 and why is demand increasing? The U.S. Air Force remains the largest operator of the C-17, but it's also used by Australia, Canada, India, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and the United Kingdom, among others. Additionally, NATO's Strategic Airlift Capability operates several C-17s. In recent years, the usage rate of U.S. C-17s has risen sharply due to global operations in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The fleet is aging faster than expected, creating urgency for more aircraft—even as the Air Force explores long-term replacements like Next-Generation Airlift (NGAL) or blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft. Live Events What makes the C-17 so hard to replace? There simply isn't a true C-17 alternative in production today. Competing platforms like the Airbus A400M and Embraer C-390 Millennium offer varying capabilities but don't match the C-17's payload and runway versatility. The A400M, for instance, carries only 30,000 pounds over 2,400 nautical miles—just a fraction of the C-17's range and lift. The C-390, often dubbed a "jet-powered C-130," is also more limited in strategic applications. Notably, the C-17 is capable of airlifting an M1 Abrams tank, a feat beyond the reach of these other aircraft. That outsized capacity is critical for modern military logistics, particularly in fast-moving or remote theaters of operation. What challenges would Boeing face in restarting the C-17 line? Restarting C-17 production won't be easy—or cheap. Boeing shut down its Long Beach, California facility in 2015, after producing 279 aircraft. The site, once operated by McDonnell Douglas (before Boeing's acquisition in 1997), was later put up for sale in 2018. That move effectively ended full-scale military aircraft production in Southern California. A RAND Corporation report in 2013 estimated it would cost around $8 billion to restart production and build 150 new C-17s with improved fuel efficiency. At the time, Boeing was expected to shift manufacturing to a different location. Today, Boeing continues to provide maintenance under the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP), which could form a foundation for any new production effort. Could the U.S. Air Force also order new C-17s? Yes, and that might be key. Although the U.S. Air Force once considered adding three more C-17 squadrons to its inventory, those plans were shelved. Now, with airlift demand surging and future conflicts likely requiring rapid, distributed logistics, there's renewed interest. The Air Force may not be able to wait for next-gen airlift solutions to become reality. Restarting C-17 production—if foreign interest is strong enough—might give the Pentagon a chance to place a gap-filler order. It's a move that could help extend global reach and support new missions, such as standoff weapons delivery, which adds a new layer of capability to the C-17. What is C-17 Globalmaster The C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) for the U.S. Air Force. It is designed to carry heavy cargo, troops, and equipment over long distances and into remote or undeveloped airfields. Key Features of the C-17 Globemaster: Can carry up to 100,000 pounds of cargo Flies over 4,500 nautical miles without refueling Operates on short, narrow, or rough runways Can transport tanks, helicopters, troops, and supplies Used for combat missions, humanitarian aid, and aerial delivery What's next for the C-17 and global strategic airlift? At this stage, it's unclear whether restarting C-17 production is feasible or cost-effective. Boeing hasn't confirmed where it would build new aircraft or how soon production could ramp up. However, with growing international demand, aging global fleets, and limited alternatives, the pressure to bring the C-17 Globemaster III back into production is real. Whether Boeing and the U.S. Air Force move forward may ultimately depend on foreign orders—and whether Washington is willing to support the restart to preserve a capability many see as essential in today's rapidly shifting global defense environment. For now, the possibility is back on the table—and it's one many military planners are watching closely. FAQs: Q1: Why is Boeing considering a C-17 production restart? Because rising global demand and no existing replacement make the C-17 vital for military airlift missions. Q2: Which countries are interested in buying new C-17s? Japan and other unnamed nations have shown interest as strategic transport needs grow.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airborne adventure
May 27—MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Airshow will take to the skies again June 21-22. "Moses Lake is rapidly becoming recognized as a significant center for aviation, and we are excited to showcase the progress in general aviation, particularly the innovative field of (short takeoff and landing) aircraft," airshow Board Chairman Carl Poteete wrote in a statement to the Columbia Basin Herald. "Our airshow provides a unique opportunity for attendees to witness the extraordinary abilities and potential of these impressive aircraft firsthand." This is the fifth year the air show has been held at Grant County International Airport. The show features a runway loaded with static displays of aircraft both military and civilian, small and large, for people to take an up-close look. There are also a range of veterans' services and other informational booths spread out on the tarmac. Meanwhile, the sky above the airport will be the venue for daredevil demonstrations and competitions. The list of performers wasn't final on Thursday, explained Marketing Coordinator Lynnsey Evans, but the show's website indicated that some of the performers who thrilled Moses Lake audiences in the past would return. Stunt pilots Yuichi Takagi, Kyle Fowler, Jon Melby and Brad Wursten are all expected to return, according to the website. The U.S. military will also be there, with the Air Force Globemaster III and Navy EA-18G Growlers demonstration teams and Wings of Blue, the Air Force parachute team. Those plans are all subject to change, Evans warned. "Things happen with weather, or the military has to go and be somewhere else at last minute," she said. Wursten's show has an extra element to it, Evans said. Anyone who purchases tickets before June 1 will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a ride in Wursten's MX aircraft MX2, a plane known for its agility and performance. Wursten began building and flying model aircraft when he was 8 years old and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in 50 different types of aircraft, he wrote in an email to the Columbia Basin Herald. Like last year, the Short Takeoff and Landing, or STOL, competition will make Moses Lake one of the stops on its tour. In a STOL competition, pilots show off their expertise in taking off and landing within a very limited space. "It's really great in back-country when they're out flying general aviation if you do a quick landing or an unexpected one," Evans said. "Short takeoff and landings are skills that any pilot should know. And out of that came a competition ... What's cool is, for anyone who doesn't know about STOL, or does know about STOL, or wants to get into aviation, they're all out there with their planes, and so it's easy to network with them, bounce ideas off them." The airshow will also host the World RC Invitational, where radio-controlled aviation enthusiasts put on a show for the fans. Everything at the Moses Lake Airshow is family-friendly, and that's by design, Evans said. "There are less and less family friendly events anymore," she said. "So we're really trying to promote that this is a family-friendly event, come on out. We'll have activities for the kids, some STEAM activities, and face painting and balloons." The board also tries to bring in as many local sponsors and food vendors as possible, Evans added. Moses Lake has a long history as an aviation hub, Evans said, and last year the show drew about 8,000 attendees. "The Moses Lake Airshow is a vital economic engine for the city and county, drawing thousands of visitors and filling our local accommodations," Poteete wrote. "We eagerly anticipate welcoming guests from both near and far — our average attendee travels over 100 miles to be here — to join us in celebrating this special fifth anniversary."
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
See military plane over Key Peninsula on Sunday night? Here's what it was
A military plane that residents spotted flying over the Key Peninsula's Palmer Lake area Sunday night was returning from an overseas mission, according to U.S. Air Force 62nd Airlift Wing spokesperson Joe Kubistek. The Boeing C-17A Globemaster III was 'on a return mission from the Pacific' and was the only aircraft flying over the area at the time, he told The News Tribune in a phone call Tuesday. A C-17 is a cargo aircraft that 'can execute the strategic delivery of troops and cargo to forward areas, perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions, and transport litters and ambulatory patients,' according to an article from the U.S. Army. The C-17 arrived at McChord Field at about 9:18 p.m. Sunday after flying in from Hawaii, according to Kubistek. He said it was an 'operational mission' but didn't have further information about the nature of the mission. 'The aircraft was in control of the (Federal Aviation Administration) facility at Sea-Tac and in full compliance with all the rules and regulations the aircraft control required them to fly by,' Kubistek said. He said the FAA's Seattle center would be able to answer questions about the aircraft's route. The FAA directs aircraft to take specific flying routes based on factors such as weather or other aircraft traffic, according to Kubistek.
