The U.S. Air Force's 621st Contingency Response Wing deployed a 110-person Contingency Response Element to Simón Bolívar International Airport to expand airfield capacity after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24. The CRE first assessed runway integrity, then established air traffic, ground operations and cargo handling to speed delivery of relief flights. The U.S. has committed transport aircraft and naval assets and pledged roughly $350 million; nine Americans were reported among the fatalities.
U.S. Airmen Boost Venezuelan Relief Effort — 621st CRW Expands Airfield Capacity After Devastating Quakes
U.S. Air Force Contingency Response Element Airmen, assigned to the 621st Contingency Response Wing, build their camp at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela, on June 28, 2026. (Devin M. Rumbaugh/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force contingency response wing has deployed personnel to Venezuela to help local authorities receive and process humanitarian aid after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on June 24.
Deployment and Mission
Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW) dispatched a 110-person Contingency Response Element (CRE) from the 321st Contingency Response Squadron to Simón Bolívar International Airport. The team is working with local aviation officials, a Venezuelan interim authority and a U.S. interagency response group to expand the airport's ability to receive relief flights, the wing said in a July 3 release.
Airfield Assessment and Operations
The Contingency Response Airfield Assessment team was first on the ground to inspect the airport's structural condition and runway load-bearing capacity to confirm it could safely accommodate heavy cargo aircraft such as C-17s and C-130s. Once cleared, the remainder of the CRE established full airfield operations to support air traffic control, airfield management and cargo handling.
“By stepping in to help manage tower and ground operations, the airmen are clearing logistical bottlenecks. This critical infrastructure support ensures that vital supplies, heavy equipment, and relief personnel reach the front lines of the disaster zone as quickly and safely as possible,” the release stated.
U.S. Support and Humanitarian Impact
U.S. Southern Command announced that the United States committed C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport planes, the amphibious transport ship USS Fort Lauderdale and the littoral combat ship USS Billings to aid the response. The U.S. has pledged roughly $350 million to the effort, and State Department officials confirmed that nine Americans were among the fatalities.
On June 24, two powerful earthquakes — magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 occurring within seconds of each other — struck Venezuela. As of the reported update, the death toll stood at 3,811 with 16,740 people injured, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez.
About the 621st Contingency Response Wing
Known as the "Devil Raiders," the 621st CRW is based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and Travis Air Force Base, California. The wing specializes in rapidly opening airbases, coordinating air mobility operations, supporting partner nations and enabling joint interoperability. It has a track record of disaster response, including aid after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods, as well as support following the 2017 hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
The deployed airmen's work at Simón Bolívar International Airport aims to reduce logistical delays so relief supplies, heavy equipment and personnel can reach affected communities faster and more safely.
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