By Huang Hao and Wu Xinwei

The ground crew members of the Chinese Peacekeeping Helicopter Contingent inspect the helicopter in the early morning of August 9, 2026. (Photo by Huang Hao)

ABYEI, South Sudan, Aug. 9 -- Two helicopters attached to the 6th Chinese Peacekeeping Helicopter Contingent to Abyei completed a last-minute transportation mission from Abyei to Juba on August 9, 2026, upon receiving emergent request from UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

In the early morning of August 9, a civilian helicopter attached to the UNISFA was reported with mechanical failure before performing a scheduled transport mission and was unable to complete the transportation mission, risking the delay of transportation of peacekeepers to the designated area. The UNISFA reached to the Chinese helicopter contingent for help, requiring the contingent to take off in one hour. The Chinese peacekeepers responded to the last-minute mission immediately. They completed all preparation and set out for mission within time less than one hour.

Each of the two Chinese peacekeeping helicopters was boarded with one extra pilot and one mechanic, serving as rotation flight crew, so as to reduce the fatigue from long-distance flight and ensure the safety of the mission.

After landing on Juba, the crew members took a short break and then took off to return to Abyei.

The picture demonstrates the thundery weather during the flight. (Photo by Xi Yingjie)

During their flight back to Abyei, thunderstorm clouds accompanied them almost all the time, bringing constant turbulence to the choppers. The pilots carefully observed the climate changes, maintained communication with ground commanding posts, thus successfully dealt with all emergency situations and landed the choppers on the airport of the Abyei Super Camp.

Normally, a flight mission of a single helicopter lasts from two to four hours. During this emergency transportation mission, the flight time of each Chinese helicopter lasted for 8 hours and 5 minutes, covering a distance of 722 kilometers. By completing this mission, the Chinese peacekeepers not only stood up during emergency, but also refreshed their record—the longest single flight mission they have ever completed since serving in the mission area.

The UNIFSA spoke highly of the Chinese peacekeeping helicopter contingent for their rapid response and courage to brave the risk and step up. For themselves, this last-minute mission not only tested their rapid response mechanism, readiness level, and equipment maintenance, but also demonstrated Chinese peacekeepers' indispensible air support in the mission area.

The Nepalese peacekeeper shakes hand with a Chinese peacekeeper after landing on the airport of Abyei Super Camp. (Photo by Huang Hao)