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Massive Military Plane Evacuates Hundreds Of People From Afghanistan

Massive Military Plane Evacuates Hundreds Of People From Afghanistan

The Reach 871 C-17 was five times over its passenger limit as it took as many people as possible fleeing the Taliban.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from Afghanistan after a US military plane conducted an unexpected extraction.

The Reach 871 C-17 aircraft landed at Kabul Airport as the Taliban took control of the country following a multi-day insurgency.

The return of the militant group caused mass panic in the region and many have been trying to get out of the country over fears their lives will be irrevocably changed for the negative.

An incredible image has revealed how the Reach 871 was packed with 640 people and was five times over its passenger limit as it left Kabul.

A defence official told Defense One that instead of trying to force these citizens off the plane, 'the crew made the decision to go'.

People had to sit on the ground and clung to cargo straps as the plane landed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

It's one of the largest passenger evacuations on a C-17 aircraft in history and demonstrates how desperate people were to leave.

There were terrifying scenes at Kabul Airport as viral footage and pictures showed people clambering to get onto any plane in the hope it will take them somewhere better.

They were even clinging to the hull as one US aircraft took off down the runway and two people were believed to have fallen from the plane soon after take-off.

A Kabul news agency reported: "Locals near Kabul airport claim that three young men who were holding themselves tightly in the wheels of an aeroplane fell on top of people's houses.

"One of the locals confirmed this and said that the fall of these people made a loud and terrifying noise."

According to other reports, gunshots have also been heard at the airport.

Witnesses said five people had been killed, with one saying he had seen five bodies taken outside to a vehicle, Reuters reports.

Another witness said it was unclear if the people had been killed by the gunshots or in a stampede.

An official at the airport said: "The airport is out of control... the (Afghan) government just sold us out."

The Taliban has now cemented its control of Afghanistan after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country over the weekend. The group had been removed from power by US and UK-led forces back in 2001.

President Ghani delivers televised address to the nation.
PA

During its rule, women were not permitted to work and punishments such as stoning, whipping and hanging were known to be used.

It's feared these laws will now be reintroduced.

In a message to the people of Afghanistan, President Ghani attempted to explain why he left the country before militants could seize control of the Presidential Palace.

The world leader said he faced a 'hard decision' between an 'armed Taliban' and 'leaving the dear country that I dedicated my life to protecting the past 20 years'.

He said: "If left unchecked, countless patriots would be martyred and the city of Kabul would be devastated, resulting in a major humanitarian catastrophe in the six-million-strong city.

"The Taliban had made it clear that they were ready to carry out a bloody attack on all of Kabul and the people of Kabul to oust me. In order to prevent a flood of bloodshed, I decided to leave."

Featured Image Credit: Twitter

Topics: News