'Cheonghae Unit Evacuation Operation' Military Transport Aircraft Arrives On Site... Returning Home This Afternoon

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Two Air Force multi-purpose aerial refueling transport aircraft (KC-330) have arrived on site to transfer the 34th Cheonghae Unit.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 19th, among the 301 crew members of the 34th Cheonghae Unit's Munmu the Great-class ship (4,400 tons) deployed in the African waters, 247 were finally confirmed positive for COVID-19 and will board the transport aircraft separately from the non-infected personnel.

The military has equipped sufficient medical equipment and supplies, including onboard oxygen tanks, in preparation for emergency patients during transfer, and medical staff will accompany the unit. They plan to repatriate all members of the 34th Cheonghae Unit, including 15 who are currently hospitalized in local hospitals. The crew members will move to quarantine and treatment facilities immediately after arrival.

If the transport aircraft's takeoff and landing and the docking at the neighboring country's port proceed smoothly, the 34th Cheonghae Unit members are expected to arrive at Seongnam Seoul Airport late afternoon on the 20th, Korea time.

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