By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Published: 12:42 BST, 25 August 2026 | Updated: 12:46 BST, 25 August 2026
A US Air Force transport jet made a highly unusual landing in Moscow on Tuesday, sparking a frenzy of theories about its mysterious mission.
The C-17A Globemaster III touched down at Vnukovo International Airport on August 25 after taking off from Riga, Latvia, public flight-tracking data showed.
The aircraft is a large, long-range military transport aircraft used for strategic and tactical airlifting of troops, vehicles, and heavy cargo worldwide.
The Globemaster III left the NATO country at around 8.50am Moscow time (12.50am ET) and landed in the Russian capital roughly 74 minutes later.
Its route took it through tightly controlled Russian airspace, which it would have needed official clearance to enter. Flight records show the plane had arrived in Riga on August 23 from Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC, home to the presidential fleet that includes Air Force One.
Neither Washington nor Moscow had explained the reason for the flight as of Tuesday morning, leaving it unclear who or what the giant military aircraft was carrying.
The silence prompted speculation that it could be connected to a prisoner exchange, sensitive diplomatic talks over the war in Ukraine or an operation involving embassy personnel.
One X user who tracks US military planes said: 'In a highly unusual move, a US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft has just landed in Moscow from Riga, Latvia, flying across restricted airspace. I wonder what is going on…'
The C-17A Globemaster III touched down at Vnukovo International Airport on August 25 after taking off from Riga, Latvia, public flight-tracking data showed
However, no evidence has emerged to support any of those theories, and the true purpose of the rare flight remains a mystery.
The C-17A Globemaster III is a hulking four-engine military transport designed to carry troops, armored vehicles and oversized cargo around the world.
The Boeing-built aircraft stretches 174 feet from nose to tail and has a wingspan of nearly 170 feet.
It can haul up to 170,900 pounds, enough to carry 102 fully equipped paratroopers or a 69-ton M1 Abrams battle tank.
