{"id":3140002,"date":"2026-06-29T10:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T08:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/c-17s-over-caracas-when-earthquakes-call-the-air-force-answers\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T14:04:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T12:04:59","slug":"c-17s-over-caracas-when-earthquakes-call-the-air-force-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/jetflights\/es\/c-17s-over-caracas-when-earthquakes-call-the-air-force-answers\/","title":{"rendered":"Aviones C-17 sobre Caracas: Cuando los terremotos llaman, la Fuerza A\u00e9rea responde."},"content":{"rendered":"

When twin earthquakes ripped through northern Venezuela on 24 June \u2014 a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed 39 seconds later by a catastrophic magnitude 7.5 mainshock \u2014 the country's fragile infrastructure collapsed in minutes. Buildings pancaked across Caracas. Roads buckled in Yaracuy state. By the time the dust settled, more than 1,430 people were dead<\/strong>, over 3,200 injured, and nearly 69,000 missing beneath the rubble. It was the worst seismic disaster in Venezuela in over a century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within hours, the grey giants of the U.S. Air Force were wheels-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The C-17 Globemaster III \u2014 the backbone of American strategic airlift. Three C-17s from bases across the United States deployed to Venezuela within 48 hours of the earthquakes. U.S. Air Force photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Three C-17s, Three Bases, One Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Southern Command dispatched three C-17 Globemaster IIIs<\/strong> from airfields spanning the American continent. The 437th Airlift Wing<\/strong> at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, launched first. A second aircraft from the 305th Air Mobility Wing<\/strong> at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, followed close behind. A third C-17 from the 62nd Airlift Wing<\/strong> at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington \u2014 the Pacific Northwest \u2014 rounded out the initial wave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first C-17, callsign USA-01, carried 79 personnel from two of America's most experienced urban search-and-rescue teams \u2014 Fairfax County, Virginia<\/strong> and Los Angeles County<\/strong> \u2014 along with six search dogs and 70,000 pounds of specialised rescue equipment. A second aircraft landed at El Libertador airbase<\/strong> in Maracay, delivering additional teams and medical supplies. The third hauled heavy load-movement equipment to help clear collapsed structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n