CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The North Carolina Air National Guard conducted flyover salutes Thursday to foodbank workers, medical staffs and other frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.
The C-17 departed the Charlotte Douglas International Airport at 10 a.m.
The plane flew over dozens of hospitals and medical centers throughout the state in a salute to healthcare employees and their tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic. They called it Operation American Resolve.
“I think it’s fantastic. Anything that brings awareness and helps in honoring the people on the front lines and risking their lives every day," said Morganton resident Stacy Propst.
The planned route started over Asheville in the western part of the state before heading to Wilmington and circling back to Charlotte.
WATCH AS THE PLANE FLEW OVER MORGANTON:
This browser does not support the video element.
Along the way, the route included medical facilities in Morganton, Salisbury, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill and Greenville.
It flew over food banks in Asheville, Raleigh and Charlotte, among other cities and facilities.
The plane returned to Charlotte by 1:25 p.m. to fly over the Harris Teeter Distribution Center, Novant Health Presbyterian Med Center, Atrium Health Charlotte and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina before ending its mission.
“This is uplifting as far as that goes. It’s good for the whole community and everybody else," said Morganton resident Bruce Anderson.
[ F-15 fighter jets fly over eastern NC hospitals to show support during pandemic ]
Channel 9′s Genevieve Curtis watched the plane flyover at CMS Main in Dilworth along with hospital staff.
She said the masks could muffle the sound of cheers and applause from health care workers.
“My brother is actually a physician working in the hospital right now so kinda hits home. He’s an infectious disease physician,” said Charlotte resident April Tegeler.
The flyover lasted just a few seconds, but the aircraft did make three passes over Atrium and Novant.
>> Have questions about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Carolinas? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak -- CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
Channel 9′s John Ahrens was in Chopper 9 Skyzoom to witness the Ci-17 soar across the sky.
He said the plane normally flies up at 30,000 to 40,000 feet in the air but was at 1,000 feet Thursday so it was easily visible to everyone. John also said it has to slow down to speeds of 250 mph as it approached to salute health care workers.
“It’s a somber time. Unique time. Unique challenges. For me, it’s a prideful moment to be able to show that we are still here we have a lot of folks willing to help," Maj. Joseph King said.
Usually, these planes are used for strategic aircraft missions and hauling in cargo like bringing in supplies during hurricane season. On Thursday, they brought hope across the state.
Here’s a complete schedule for the mission:
Asheville - 10:50 a.m.
Mission Hospital
Manna Food Bank
Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center
J.F.K. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center
Morganton - 11:02 a.m.
Broughton Hospital
J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center
Hickory - 11:07 a.m.
Frye Regional Medical Hospital
Statesville - 11:12 a.m.
Iredell Memorial Hospital
Salisbury - 11:16 a.m.
Salisbury VA
Winston-Salem - 11:21 a.m.
Wake Forest Baptist Hospital
Bowman Gray Campus
Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC
Greensboro/Burlington - 11:25 a.m.
High Point Regional
Moses Cone Memorial Hospital
Lab Corp Burlington Corporate Headquarters
Chapel Hill - 11:39 a.m.
UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital
Durham - 11:42 a.m.
Durham VA Medical Center
Duke University Hospital
Butner - 11:46 a.m.
Central Regional Hospital Murdoch Developmental Center
R.J. Blackley Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center
Raleigh - 11:50 a.m.
UNC REX Hospital
NC National Guard JFHQ
Wake Med Hospital
Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC
Duke/Raleigh Hospital
Downtown Raleigh - 12 p.m.
Goldsboro - 12:09 p.m.
Cherry Hospital
O’berry Neuro-Medical Treatment Center
Wilson - 12:15 p.m.
Longleaf Neuro-Medical Treatment
Greenville - 12:21 p.m.
Vidant Medical Center
Walter B. Jones Alcohol & Drug Abuse Treatment Center
Greenville Veteran’s Health Care Center
Kinston - 12:28 p.m.
Caswell Development Center
Jacksonville - 12:35 p.m.
Onslow Memorial Hospital
Wilmington - 12:48 p.m.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Charlotte - 1:25 p.m.
Harris Teeter Distribution Center
Novant Health Presbyterian Med Center
Atrium Health Charlotte
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
The flyovers are part of routine training and will not cost taxpayers any additional money.
>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
This browser does not support the video element.