A manufacturing company with ties to the area took part in making an airlift rescue out of Kabul, Afghanistan a success.

Zekelman Industries is headquartered in Chicago, but includes several operating divisions across North America. Two of these divisions are here in the Valley, including Wheatland Tube in Warren and Sharon Tube in Farrell.

The company helped fund a $1.1 million dollar mission that chartered two flights to and from Kabul, successfully rescuing 534 American citizens and lawful permanent residents, spouses, and children out of the city after the U.S. Military withdrawal.

The move came after an Army veteran and business partner Jim Young of Sabot Development reached out to Zekelman Industries asking for their help with the mission.

Zekelman aided in sourcing equipment, handling logistics, and extraditing those rescued over the course of six days. Despite the chaos and shifting Taliban rules, they worked with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of State to vet the passengers and clear them for landing in Abu Dhabi.

The team says they are "continuing to work to secure safe passage of all evacuees to their final destination."