RAF pilot honoured for quick thinking during Kabul evacuation mission

An RAF pilot who narrowly avoided ploughing into a bus on a runway while flying refugees out of Afghanistan has received an honour for his actions.

During Operation Pitting, the UK military's evacuation of civilians out of Kabul last year, Group Captain Kevin Latchman made a split-second decision that saved the lives of more than 377 people after a bus drove into the path of his C-17 aircraft.

The Prince of Wales presented the pilot with the Air Force Cross for leadership and bravery at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.

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Speaking to Forces News, Group Captain Latchman, Officer Commanding 99 Squadron, described the chaos on the airfield as he had to wait for the passengers to get onto the aircraft with the engines running. 

He said: "You are burning lots of fuel and you've only got a certain amount of time otherwise you will run out of fuel and you have to go back.

"It was quite a chaotic, dynamic environment."

Once the passengers were on the aircraft, the RAF team realised the lights on the runway had gone out but they took the decision to take off in darkness.

"Normally we don't take off with no lighting on the airfield but we had to take that decision," he said.

As they went down the runway at nearly 100mph, three vehicles appeared parallel to the aircraft.

Group Captain Latchman said they were not deemed a threat at first because they were parallel to the jet but then they turned right on and were on the same runway as the airman and his hundreds of passengers.

The vehicles were about 1,000ft ahead of the RAF C-17 strategic transport aircraft and Group Captain Latchman realised that he could not stop because then he would not get to takeoff speed. 

After quickly confirming with his copilot, Group Captain Latcham made the decision to take off early and the plane "lumbered into the air", missing the bus by "less than 10 feet".

Group Captain Latcham said: "We got away with it.

"The passengers in the back would not have been aware. The people in the bus definitely would have been aware. The thrust of the aircraft would have let them know that they probably just about lived." 

The Group Captain added: "It's wonderful to be recognised. It's great seeing His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales today. It was great having my family here. 

"When I stand here and think about the recognition I realise that it is a team effort. 

"The whole of 99 Squadron, Royal Air Force Brize Norton and everybody who was on the ground trying to protect us – it was a team effort.

"Operation Pitting was fantastic," he added.