The crew of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force's Y-20B large transport aircraft has meticulously prepared every detail for the repatriation mission of the 13th batch of the remains of Chinese soldiers who died during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953).
On Monday, China dispatched a Y-20B transport aircraft, with tail number 20343, to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to bring home the remains of the fallen Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) heroes.
This marks the first time the Chinese air force has deployed the Y-20B for such a mission, and the aircraft’s maiden overseas operation.
Powered by new-generation domestically developed engines, the Y-20B made its public debut during last year's grand military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Prior to the mission, the crew has conducted thorough preparations to ensure every aspect was flawless.
"We spent about one to two weeks conducting a comprehensive inspection of all aircraft systems, including the landing gear, flight control system, power system, and communication and navigation system. Taking the engine as an example, all the cables and every single connector were checked to ensure the aircraft's condition was absolutely perfect," said Chen Yunfei, a crew member.
"For example, the [cabin floor] carpet is laid out as it is now. Since there may be strong winds on the day, we secured it thoroughly with hook-and-loop fasteners to prevent it from being blown up. This isn't particularly complicated work, but we wanted to do it with the utmost care and with the highest standards," said Xiang Yinzhong, another crew member. To show solemn respect for the fallen heroes, the cabin floor was covered with a military-green carpet. The coffin racks were securely locked and fitted with anti-collision strips to ensure stability during the flight.
"We are aiming to carry out this flight mission with the standards of stability, safety, speed and efficiency. The timing of [the formation's] flyby, landing, and even passing through the water gates will all be precisely controlled," said Yang Minghui, captain of the Y-20B transport aircraft.
China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the battlefield of the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured.
Since 2014, China and ROK have completed 12 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 1,011 CPV martyrs in ROK, along with related items.
"As a serviceman, it is a weighty responsibility and an honor to bring back our predecessors who sacrificed their lives on foreign lands for peace and security of our nation. The deployment of the newly commissioned Y-20B transport aircraft is a tribute to the fallen heroes of the CPV soldiers. It shows the strength of our country and army, and our capability in defending peace of our country," said Yang.
China's Y-20B crew set for CPV martyrs' transfer mission
