Islamabad-Web Desk : Questions have emerged over why the aircraft carrying US Vice President J. D. Vance to Pakistan used the callsign “SAM095” instead of the more commonly known “Air Force Two.”
The vice president traveled aboard a C-32A aircraft, a military version of the Boeing 757 typically used for VIP transport. Under standard protocol, when the US vice president is physically onboard, the aircraft adopts the callsign “Air Force Two.”
However, aviation and defense experts explain that the use of “SAM095” indicates a Special Air Mission (SAM) designation. This callsign is assigned to US Air Force aircraft tasked with transporting senior government officials, including cabinet members, lawmakers, and high-ranking military personnel.
The designation suggests that the flight was categorized as part of a specific operational mission, rather than a routine vice-presidential movement. The number “095” represents a unique mission identifier linked to the flight’s operational plan.
Such variations in callsigns are not unusual and often depend on security protocols, mission classification, or passenger composition. If individuals other than the vice president are the primary passengers, or if the mission falls under a broader operational category, the aircraft may not use the “Air Force Two” callsign.
The use of SAM095 highlights the structured and coded system employed by the US military for secure VIP air transport operations, especially during sensitive diplomatic visits such as the ongoing US-Iran talks hosted in Islamabad.
