Two United States Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft have been tracked landing at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, Kenya.
Kenya granted the US access to land at the military installation, where a quarantine unit is expected to be established and operated by American personnel.
According to Flightradar24 records, one aircraft with registration number 98-0051 landed at Nanyuki on 28 May 2026 at 11:12 UTC. The aircraft had previously operated on a Ramstein-linked mission route as part of U.S. Air Mobility Command logistics flights.
The second aircraft, 03-3115, was also tracked landing at the same airbase, with flight data showing a scheduled RCH152 mission on 29 May 2026.
The aircraft movements come after reports that the Laikipia Air Base has been identified as the site of the proposed plan by the United States government to set up a quarantine facility for its citizens exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Also Read: Laikipia Air Base Kenya: America’s Ebola Quarantine Hub for US Citizens – What to Know
Coordinated C-17 Flights from Ramstein to Kenya
Flight tracking data shows that the two United States planes with registered numbers 03-3115 and 98-0051 are Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport planes operated by the United States Air Force under Air Mobility Command.
The aircraft followed a long-range intercontinental route from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki.
The C-17 Globemaster III is an airlift aircraft used for the rapid deployment of troops and equipment, as well as humanitarian support.
According to the U.S. Air Force, the aircraft can transport heavy cargo and personnel, and even support aeromedical evacuation missions when required.
Both aircraft are assigned to the “Reach” (RCH) mission category, which is used for U.S. military transport operations involving strategic logistics.
Air Force C-17A Globemaster III Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Aircraft type | Boeing C-17A Globemaster III |
| Operator | United States Air Force |
| Crew | 3 (pilot, co-pilot, loadmaster) |
| Length | 53 m |
| Height | 16.8 m |
| Wingspan | 51.75 m |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 265,000 kg |
| Engines | 4 × Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofans |
| Thrust per engine | 40,440 lbf |
| Cruise speed | ~829 km/h (Mach 0.74) |
| Range | ~10,390 km (typical payload) |
| Cargo capacity | Up to 77 tonnes |
| Troop capacity | Up to 134 personnel |
| Medical evacuation role | Up to 36 stretcher patients |
Also Read: Blow to Ruto as Court Stops U.S Ebola Quarantine Project
US Ebola Quarantine Plan
The proposed facility at the Laikipia Air Base is intended to isolate American citizens who have been exposed to Ebola but are not showing symptoms.
According to reports, the medical team set to be deployed includes doctors, nurses, laboratory specialists, mental health professionals, and engineers, as well as personnel who handled the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak in Liberia.
All staff have undergone specialized training in protective equipment, quarantine procedures, and treatment protocols.
The unit will be staffed by the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed medical service.
Officials from the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps say the facility is part of a strategy to prevent Ebola cases from entering the United States.
Individuals who develop symptoms are expected to be transferred to specialized facilities in other countries rather than being taken directly to the US.
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