First female Afghan pilot applies for Asylum

Capt Niloofar Rahmani rose to fame in 2013 after becoming the first female pilot to graduate from the US led pilot training program in Afghanistan. She since transitioned to C-130 training at Little Rock Air Force Base, which she completed Thursday. Immediately upon completion, she requested Asylum in few US.

Capt Rahmani has received multiple death threats, including from relatives who tried to hunt her down during training. Her Afghan superiors repeatedly recommended she quit. If allowed to stay in the US she wants to keep flying, either for the Air Force or commercial aircraft.

www.wsj.com...

So it seems if she is not granted asylum and returns home she will be killed. Probably by family in an "honor" killing.

I wonder if her plan all along was to come here to train and then seek asylum. Perhaps and most likely she wanted to train and return home and help defend her country somehow not realizing she would be targeted for death.

Last but probably least likely, she came here as an agent, the death threats were planned, asylum granted and she flies a plane and drops bombs on the USA...

a reply to: tinner07

In previous interviews she was excited about being a role model, and was dealing with the threats fairly well. I feel bad for her, because all she wants to do is fly and help her country going on her interviews.

Truly a sad state of affairs! Her own family even WTH!

Hopefully the USAF will find her a suitable position and take her under their wing so to say.

Yeah that's too bad. Probably would have done wonders for IDK...self esteem of little girls and women in general in her country.

Probably wasn't easy in the training program in Afghanistan.

I hope they expedite things and she can stay, that is a person that would be a benefit to our country...

So odds are State will drag its feet hem and haw... and ponder while she gets sent back to certain death.

Maybe she's a sleeper...?

a reply to: Irishhaf

She's currently staying in the US. She was scheduled to leave today, bit her attorney has gotten her an extension on remaining in the US for now. But knowing state, I wouldn't be surprised if you're right.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Irishhaf

She's currently staying in the US. She was scheduled to leave today, bit her attorney has gotten her an extension on remaining in the US for now. But knowing state, I wouldn't be surprised if you're right.

Maybe she should talk to Trump and ask him for help when he is swore in. maybe he can hire her himself.

She sounds like a dedicated and strong young woman. She's no snowflake!

First Afghan Woman Pilot Flies with Blue Angels
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Lebron, Navy Blue Angels Public Affairs - March 16, 2015

Rahmani was recruited to join the Afghan Air Force in 2010 at the age of 18. She graduated from flight school and completed her first solo flight in 2012. Rahmani also attended advanced flight school and qualified to fly the C-208, a military cargo aircraft. She said she hopes to fly the C-130 in the future.

Rahmani's road to success has been challenging and dangerous, she said.

"It was not easy finishing flight school, it was very hard, but someone had to accept the risk so that other women can do what they dream," Rahmani explained.

She and her family received death threats from the Taliban because of her career choice, but she says it's her responsibility to be an example for young girls coming up behind her.

www.doncio.navy.mil...

a reply to: Zaphod58
This is so sad. A strong woman who wanted to help defend her country is now threatened to the point that she would be killed if she returns home.

Why are we assisting them again?

I think we should hire her and let her drop the bomb on her ex-comrades. Just make sure they know who is flying above them!