A Russian Helicopter Led the First CIA Operatives to Afghanistan After September 11

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Twenty-five years ago, a Russian-made helicopter crossed the mountains of Afghanistan carrying the first team from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) sent to the country after the September 11, 2001 attacks, marking the beginning of what later became the longest American war.

On September 26, 2001, a team of seven officers, codenamed 'JAWBREAKER', arrived in the Panjshir Valley, carrying millions of dollars in cash to recruit and equip Afghan allies and gather intelligence in preparation for operations against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, according to CBS News.

The team used a Mi-17 helicopter, chosen by the CIA for its ability to blend into the local environment; helicopters of this type were used by both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. It was also one of the few helicopters capable of crossing the Anjuman Pass, which rises about 14,500 feet.

Due to the helicopter not having a transponder that would allow American aircraft to identify it, the letters 'USA' and the American flag were painted on its upper part to distinguish it for allied pilots. The helicopter bore the call sign '9-11-01'. It later carried out more than 300 missions in Afghanistan before being retired in 2012.

After weeks, CIA officer David Tyson was sent as part of “Team Alpha” to northern Afghanistan, where he worked with the forces of Uzbek leader Abdul Rashid Dostum, making the team one of the first Americans to operate behind Taliban lines.

On November 25, 2001, Tyson and CIA officer Johnny Michael “Mike” Spann entered Qala-i-Jangi near Mazar-i-Sharif to interrogate Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners. However, the prisoners revolted, and fierce fighting broke out inside the fortress. Spann, who was 32 years old, was killed, becoming the first American to die in combat in Afghanistan and the 79th name on the CIA memorial wall. Tyson said he reached Spann after his death and used his rifle to fight his way out of the fortress. The rifle is still on display at the CIA Museum.

After its service, the helicopter was transferred to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia in 2018, where it recently underwent restoration to return it to a look close to its appearance in 2001.

During the restoration, the number “607” was reinstated, which was the call sign of the Afghan pilot who led the first mission. The number helped the helicopter appear as if it belonged to the Northern Alliance while simultaneously identifying it to allied pilots as friendly.

Tyson says that the story of the helicopter and his comrades represents not just a chapter in the history of the war, but a reminder of the Afghan soldiers and officers who collaborated with the Americans and then became vulnerable after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and the return of the Taliban to power.

Tyson and the widow of Spann participate in the organization "Badger Six," which was established in 2022 to assist Afghan fighters who worked with "Team Alpha" and their families, stating that it currently provides support to about 35 families. Tyson spoke about the ongoing assistance to these allies: "This is what people do. This is what we do."