US Air Force cargo Boeing lands in Moscow after flying via Latvia

On Tuesday morning, a heavy US Air Force military transport aircraft, a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III with tail number RCH4555, landed at a Moscow airport. According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, the aircraft arrived from Latvia, though its journey actually began back on Saturday.

The plane's route was far from direct: it took off from Joint Base McGuire in the US state of New Jersey, then made an overnight stop at Charleston airport in South Carolina. On Sunday, it flew on to Joint Base Andrews — a joint US Air Force and Navy facility near Washington, D.C., which is also, notably, where Air Force One departs from. The aircraft then spent the entire night crossing the Atlantic, landing in Riga, the Latvian capital, on Monday, before continuing on to Moscow on Tuesday.

Purpose of the flight unknown

According to independent Russian outlet Meduza, there is no information about the purpose of the trip, the nature of the cargo, or any passengers on board. No identifying details about the flight have emerged since it landed in Moscow either.

The outlet noted that Russian authorities have in recent months been expecting a visit from US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Both have previously served as American mediators in talks between Moscow and Kyiv, though that peace process is currently on hold.

About the aircraft

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a heavy military transport aircraft designed for the rapid deployment of troops, equipment and cargo. It is capable of carrying more than 77 tonnes of cargo and can take off and land on relatively short, poorly equipped runways. The aircraft has been in service with the US Air Force since 1995.

Source: novinky.cz