What looked like a rare chance for Palestinians to escape the devastation of Gaza has instead raised urgent questions about who organized the mysterious Al Majd airlifts — and how Israeli financing became part of the operation. This special report breaks down the hidden network behind the flights, the unclear motives, and the survivors’ accounts of a journey shrouded in secrecy.

All About Al Majd: The Shadow Group Air Lifting Palestinians 

The US military said on Sunday it has carried out an operation in Haiti to airlift non-essential embassy personnel from the country and added American forces to bolster embassy security.

US military airlifts embassy personnel from Haiti

The first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft landed in Vadodara on Wednesday, days after it was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the southern Spanish city of Seville.

The aircraft, which was flown by Group Captain PS Negi, would be formally inducted into the IAF at a ceremony that will be held in Hindon near Delhi on September 25.

The plane took off from Spain on September 15 from Seville and made three stopovers in Malta, Egypt and Bahrain before landing in Vadodara.

“The IAF’s first C-295 MW aircraft landed in Vadodara today. The aircraft would be handed over to the #IAF in a formal ceremony on 25 Sep 23 at AF Stn Hindon by the Honourable Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh,” the IAF shared a post on X.

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The IAF's first C-295 MW aircraft landed in Vadodara today. 
 
The aircraft would be handed over to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IAF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IAF</a> in a formal ceremony on 25 Sep 23 at AF Stn Hindan by the Honourable Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtmanirbharBharat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AtmanirbharBharat</a> <a href="https://t.co/qkhoamP2IG">pic.twitter.com/qkhoamP2IG</a>
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1704481027068940340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

After receiving the delivery of the aircraft, IAF Chief Chaudhari termed it a major milestone for India and said that the induction of the aircraft would improve IAF’s tactical airlift capabilities.

"It is a major milestone not only for IAF but for the whole country. This is for two reasons - first, for IAF it improves our tactical airlift capabilities. For a nation, it marks the beginning of a new era,” news agency ANI quoted Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari as saying.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-invites-us-president-biden-to-indias-2024-republic-day-celebrations-reveals-eric-garcetti-637970">PM Modi invites US President Biden to India's 2024 Republic Day celebrations, reveals Eric Garcetti</a>

“For Atmanirbhar Bharat, after the first 16 aircraft roll out from this plant, the 17th aircraft onwards will be made in India. It's a big step for the Indian aviation industry where we will be manufacturing the first military transport aircraft in the country," he added.

On September 13, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari received India’s first C-295 transport aircraft, two years after India finalised a Rs 21,935-crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure the jets to replace its ageing Avro–748 fleet.

<h2>Milestone in military aircraft production</h2>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 30, 2022, inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.

This pioneering facility, the first of its kind in the private sector in India, is poised to manufacture C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain.

The C295 is renowned for its versatility and is employed for various purposes, including the tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, as well as logistics operations in areas that are inaccessible to heavier aircraft.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft landed in Vadodara on Wednesday, days after it was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the southern Spanish city of Seville.

The first C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft landed in Vadodara on Wednesday, days after it was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the southern Spanish city of Seville. The aircraft, which was flown by Group Captain PS Negi, would be formally inducted into the IAF at a ceremony that will be held in Hindon near Delhi on September 25. The plane took off from Spain on September 15 from Seville and made three stopovers in Malta, Egypt and Bahrain before landing in Vadodara. “The IAF’s first C-295 MW aircraft landed in Vadodara today. The aircraft would be handed over to the #IAF in a formal ceremony on 25 Sep 23 at AF Stn Hindon by the Honourable Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh,” the IAF shared a post on X. The IAF's first C-295 MW aircraft landed in Vadodara today. The aircraft would be handed over to the #IAF in a formal ceremony on 25 Sep 23 at AF Stn Hindan by the Honourable Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.#AtmanirbharBharat pic.twitter.com/qkhoamP2IG — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 20, 2023 × After receiving the delivery of the aircraft, IAF Chief Chaudhari termed it a major milestone for India and said that the induction of the aircraft would improve IAF’s tactical airlift capabilities. "It is a major milestone not only for IAF but for the whole country. This is for two reasons - first, for IAF it improves our tactical airlift capabilities. For a nation, it marks the beginning of a new era,” news agency ANI quoted Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari as saying. Also read: PM Modi invites US President Biden to India's 2024 Republic Day celebrations, reveals Eric Garcetti “For Atmanirbhar Bharat, after the first 16 aircraft roll out from this plant, the 17th aircraft onwards will be made in India. It's a big step for the Indian aviation industry where we will be manufacturing the first military transport aircraft in the country," he added. On September 13, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari received India’s first C-295 transport aircraft, two years after India finalised a Rs 21,935-crore deal with Airbus Defence and Space to procure the jets to replace its ageing Avro–748 fleet. Milestone in military aircraft production Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on October 30, 2022, inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. This pioneering facility, the first of its kind in the private sector in India, is poised to manufacture C-295 aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain. The C295 is renowned for its versatility and is employed for various purposes, including the tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, as well as logistics operations in areas that are inaccessible to heavier aircraft. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

First C-295 transport aircraft of Indian Air Force lands in Gujarat's Vadodara

Akshay Kumar completes 30 years in Bollywood: Five films that made him a star

In a striking revelation made by a congressional memo, almost none of the 82,000 people, who were airlifted from Afghanistan, were vetted before being admitted to the United States. &nbsp;

The memo summarised interviews with federal officials, who oversaw the evacuation of people at domestic and international military bases from war-torn country in August after the takeover by Taliban. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/united-states-to-resume-talks-with-taliban-next-week-431534" hreflang="en">United States to resume talks with Taliban next week</a>

This comes despite the contrary claims of the Biden administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In the memo drafted by Senate Republicans in October, senior officials from the departments of state, homeland security, defence and justice described it a disastrous screening and vetting process. &nbsp;

According to the memo, the Biden administration failed to vet the information that tens of thousands of Afghans provided through in-person interviews and just relied on criminal and terrorist databases to flag bad actors. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-expand-interim-cabinet-27-new-members-named-431429" hreflang="en">Taliban expand interim cabinet, 27 new members named</a>

It called the process merely screening and not vetting. &nbsp;

The tens of thousands of Afghans brought into the US by the administration were not qualified, it said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Around 75% evacuated were not US citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders, green card holders, or applicants for the visa, a report by the Washington Examiner cited three sources familiar with the interviews done in the memo. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a striking revelation made by a congressional memo, almost none of the 82,000 people, who were airlifted from Afghanistan, were vetted before being admitted to the United States.

In a striking revelation made by a congressional memo, almost none of the 82,000 people, who were airlifted from Afghanistan, were vetted before being admitted to the United States. The memo summarised interviews with federal officials, who oversaw the evacuation of people at domestic and international military bases from war-torn country in August after the takeover by Taliban. Also Read: United States to resume talks with Taliban next week This comes despite the contrary claims of the Biden administration. In the memo drafted by Senate Republicans in October, senior officials from the departments of state, homeland security, defence and justice described it a disastrous screening and vetting process. According to the memo, the Biden administration failed to vet the information that tens of thousands of Afghans provided through in-person interviews and just relied on criminal and terrorist databases to flag bad actors. Also Read: Taliban expand interim cabinet, 27 new members named It called the process merely screening and not vetting. The tens of thousands of Afghans brought into the US by the administration were not qualified, it said. Around 75% evacuated were not US citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders, green card holders, or applicants for the visa, a report by the Washington Examiner cited three sources familiar with the interviews done in the memo. (With inputs from agencies)

After Afghan airlift, tens of thousands entered US unvetted, says congressional memo  

The UN&nbsp;refugee agency UNHCR started to airlift supplies to Kabul on Tuesday to help hundreds of thousands of displaced Afghans build shelters ahead of the winter.

The UNHCR said a first plane was due to arrive later on Tuesday, carrying 33 tonnes of kits which contain flooring and partitions to improve tent insulation. Two other flights are planned on November&nbsp;4 and 7.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ahead-of-cop26-taliban-urges-world-to-help-fight-climate-change-425600">Ahead of COP26, Taliban urges world to help fight climate change</a>

"More resources are urgently needed to reach all those who will need help to survive the harsh winter ahead," UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told a briefing in Geneva.

The UNHCR said it is rushing to provide winter assistance to some 500,000 displaced Afghans, returnees and local host communities by the end of 2021.

It has already provided aid including shelter, food, blankets and stove to half a million Afghans this year.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-have-a-responsibility-uk-pm-pledges-to-give-ps50-million-to-help-the-afghan-women-425576">'We have a responsibility': UK PM pledges to give £50 million to help the Afghan women</a>

Afghanistan was plunged into crisis in August after Taliban fighters drove out a Western-backed government, prompting donors to hold back billions of dollars in assistance for the aid-dependent economy.

Many Afghans are selling possessions to buy food with the Taliban unable to pay wages to civil servants, and urban communities are facing food insecurity on levels similar to rural areas for the first time.

Watch |&nbsp;Powerful explosion rock Kabul, two blasts and gunfire hit Kabul's military hospital

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Aid groups are urging countries, concerned about human rights under the Taliban, to engage with the new rulers to prevent a collapse they say could trigger a migration crisis similar to the 2015 exodus from Syria that shook Europe

The UN refugee agency UNHCR started to airlift supplies to Kabul on Tuesday to help hundreds of thousands of displaced Afghans build shelters ahead of the winter.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR started to airlift supplies to Kabul on Tuesday to help hundreds of thousands of displaced Afghans build shelters ahead of the winter. The UNHCR said a first plane was due to arrive later on Tuesday, carrying 33 tonnes of kits which contain flooring and partitions to improve tent insulation. Two other flights are planned on November 4 and 7. Also Read | Ahead of COP26, Taliban urges world to help fight climate change "More resources are urgently needed to reach all those who will need help to survive the harsh winter ahead," UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told a briefing in Geneva. The UNHCR said it is rushing to provide winter assistance to some 500,000 displaced Afghans, returnees and local host communities by the end of 2021. It has already provided aid including shelter, food, blankets and stove to half a million Afghans this year. Also Read | 'We have a responsibility': UK PM pledges to give £50 million to help the Afghan women Afghanistan was plunged into crisis in August after Taliban fighters drove out a Western-backed government, prompting donors to hold back billions of dollars in assistance for the aid-dependent economy. Many Afghans are selling possessions to buy food with the Taliban unable to pay wages to civil servants, and urban communities are facing food insecurity on levels similar to rural areas for the first time. Watch | Powerful explosion rock Kabul, two blasts and gunfire hit Kabul's military hospital Aid groups are urging countries, concerned about human rights under the Taliban, to engage with the new rulers to prevent a collapse they say could trigger a migration crisis similar to the 2015 exodus from Syria that shook Europe

UN airlifts winter shelters for displaced Afghans

India evacuates more than 20 afghan Sikhs from Kabul amid Taliban takeover, evacuees include Afghanistan's only female Sikh MP Anarkali Honaryar and Sikh MP Narendra Singh Khalsa. The flight landed at Hindan airbase a short while ago.

Indian flight from Kabul lands at Hindan airbase

Budget carrier SpiceJet's dedicated freighter arm SpiceXpress on Wednesday said it has airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi amid a nationwide shortage of medical oxygen in the country.&nbsp;

Ordered by SpiceHealth for emergency use and distribution across India, the oxygen concentrators will reach Delhi via Kolkata, SpiceJet said in a release.&nbsp;

An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that concentrates oxygen from ambient air.&nbsp;

This is the second big consignment of oxygen concentrators ordered and delivered to SpiceHealth with more than 2,000 such concentrators getting transported in the last two weeks, SpiceJet said.&nbsp;

The company is looking at bringing about 20,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh said.&nbsp;

SpiceHealth has been working actively with state governments and hospitals across the country to address the issue of acute shortage of oxygen, the company said.&nbsp;

"Considering the current situation across the country, our focus is to airlift as many oxygen concentrators, BiPAPs, and other medical devices as possible to cater to the increasing demand. SpiceJet and SpiceHealth are collaborating actively to contribute in our country's dedicated efforts to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," Singh said.&nbsp;

With a network spanning 63 domestic and 50 international destinations and a fleet of 19 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 600 tonnes of cargo daily to domestic and international destinations. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Budget carrier SpiceJet's dedicated freighter arm SpiceXpress on Wednesday said it has airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi amid a nationwide shortage of medical oxygen in the country.

Budget carrier SpiceJet's dedicated freighter arm SpiceXpress on Wednesday said it has airlifted 1,000 oxygen concentrators from Hong Kong to Delhi amid a nationwide shortage of medical oxygen in the country. Ordered by SpiceHealth for emergency use and distribution across India, the oxygen concentrators will reach Delhi via Kolkata, SpiceJet said in a release. An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that concentrates oxygen from ambient air. This is the second big consignment of oxygen concentrators ordered and delivered to SpiceHealth with more than 2,000 such concentrators getting transported in the last two weeks, SpiceJet said. The company is looking at bringing about 20,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh said. SpiceHealth has been working actively with state governments and hospitals across the country to address the issue of acute shortage of oxygen, the company said. "Considering the current situation across the country, our focus is to airlift as many oxygen concentrators, BiPAPs, and other medical devices as possible to cater to the increasing demand. SpiceJet and SpiceHealth are collaborating actively to contribute in our country's dedicated efforts to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," Singh said. With a network spanning 63 domestic and 50 international destinations and a fleet of 19 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 600 tonnes of cargo daily to domestic and international destinations. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: 1,000 oxygen concentrators airlifted from Hong Kong to Delhi 

According to a report, Plane equipped with air ambulance arrives to airlift Nawaz Sharif. He is hospitalised after a dip in platelet count

Plane equipped with air ambulance arrives to airlift Nawaz Sharif: Reports

Happy Birthday Akshay Kumar: 6 lesser-known stories that were brought to life through his films

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